Pass the Aux, a series dedicated to amplifying new and upcoming musicians. We will get you up-to-date in discovering new music monthly to the point where your friends will ask you to “pass the aux!” The first Thursday of every month consists of some of the members of dayfour choosing musicians to highlight. We will give you our thoughts, our feelings and our theories on those musicians (strictly from a consumer standpoint).
*Have you got new music you want people to hear? Or perhaps you know someone that you think makes great music and just hasn’t had their big break? Make sure to follow us on IG and email links/information on new music to: hellodayfour@gmail.com. We’ll be reviewing all submissions and deciding to focus on someone new each month.
blkcory’s pick: KeiyaA
Let me tell you guys a quick story. When planning out my trip to New York a few weeks ago, my boy drops the link for a KeiyaA concert in Brooklyn. After some discussion, we cop* tickets for the show. The evening of the show arrives and we make a reso to go out to eat before the show. The drinks at this spot had way more strength than anticipated yo. Fam, we did not make it to that show. I told myself, “if she’s ever performing in the city, I’m going to make sure I go”. Today I found out that KeiyaA’s on Sampha the Great‘s tour and they were in Toronto last night. As you can imagine, again I did not have tickets. I will not let this happen a third-time man. Until that third chance comes along, I’m here to talk about some of her music.
This beat makes this song stand out so much to me. The guitar riff, the distorted sound, the offbeat feel to it. It honestly reminds me of a Dilla beat.
Even how the beat just all of a sudden stops 4 seconds in, catches your attention. At the point where the beat cuts out, I went and checked my phone because I really thought it died. When I realized it didn’t, I had to know where this song was going and I’m glad I listened long enough to find out. The more I listen to it, the more I enjoy it. It’s very different but it’s dope. Plus she said a lot of stuff at the end that I think a lot of people can relate to. If you actually rate* people that are around you, you don’t want to question their loyalty.
“No matter what you do, please don’t send my shit around the room
No matter what you do, okay, please don’t pass my spliff around the room”
“Cause we deserve to go home
And our souls will never be owned again
We can thrive on our own
And rid ourselves of these new world burdens”
That’s pretty heavy regardless of how you choose to interpret it. My interpretation (based on some of the lyrics and themes of her project “Forever Ya Girl”) is that is KeiyaA’s hoping for Black people to free of the situations they face in the world. Racism, police brutality, segregation or other things could be what she’s referring to that comes with the world we’re living in.
“Who’s supposed to ride or die for me, if not I?
Fear not, know that you’re divine!
Real niggas never die”
*drops mic*
If you had tickets to see KeiyaA last night congrats fam. Hope she performed these songs for you, if not, hopefully, we can all catch her next tour.
Glossary:
Cop – to obtain or to purchase
Rate – to respect or appreciate
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