Kelsy Karter – God Knows I’ve Tried
If you follow me on twitter , you’ll be well aware that for a long time I’ve been crying out for music that connected with me beyond a surface level. Frankly I was tired of hearing the repetitive, somewhat forgettable summer sound and like many others, was in search of something with a little more substance.
Well…thank you Kelsy Karter!
As the stirring guitar riff rippled through the intro of this song I could only hope that the sounds that followed would speak to me – and that they did.
I was instantly taken aback the moment the first verse began. Think Lana del Ray with a dash of soul and hints of Paloma Faith. I was entranced by Kely’s distinct vocal tone but even more captivated by the conviction with which she sang.
Speaking on the track, the New Zealand born, LA based artist stated:
“I’ve spent my whole life being rebellious and doing what people told me not to do. And when you have that kind of spirit, somebody always gets hurt. I guess “God Knows I’ve Tried” is just my apology letter in the form of a rock&roll ballad.”
What I particularly loved was the instrumental arrangement of the song.
It began quite texturally thin with just the guitar and vocals giving listeners a chance to focus on the poignancy of the lyrics.
Moment by my moment more layers were added really giving a sense of a build up in emotional intensity, heightening with additions of organs and a choir in the second verse.
Citing influences like Queen, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Karter mixes up a combination of a rebellious nature, a nomadic spirit and enormous talent to create a unique vibe. Karter’s unique vision takes her fans on a journey in a time machine through the great musical acts of an earlier era, seamlessly blending classic vibes with modern influences, creating a new kind of rock & roll
Keep up with Kelsy On her socials