Theme Music With Hopeless Romantic, Kelly Kiara

The reason so many of us delve into projects comes from their meaning and relatability behind them. In our latest New Wave series, we explore the very real themes encapsulated in some of our favourite singles, that are wrapped within layers of rhythm and harmonies.

Kelly Kiara's debut EP, Hopeless Romantic is the first of this series; an artist that delivers her truest character in her debut EP, Hopeless Romantic. Born and raised in Leeds, Kelly quit her day job in recruitment, to put her undivided attention towards making music. A decision that came after her cover of Justin Bieber’s, Love Yourself, went viral and she decided to take a chance on herself. This is where our first theme comes in; direction.

The theme of direction has been a subconscious constant in Kelly’s life whether she realised it or not. “I always know exactly what I want, I won’t always know how to get it, but I always try until I have it. That is just my inner calling,” says Kelly. This debut EP is a strong suggestion of the direction Kelly is taking, each track in the project depicting the journey through romance in a jaded dating scene. This project also commences the end of a chapter for Kelly, as any great story told.

Leading perfectly into our next theme; heartbreak. An inevitable subject when R&B is involved, the project begins with Good Girls Don’t C** Very Often, a monologue of what seems to be a voice note to Kelly from one of her friends, describing a situation that Kelly was in that led to deceit. An all too familiar situation for many of us and sets the tone for what the EP is about. A strong character breakdown of the trials and tribulations of being an emotional woman. The project did not always have this trajectory with Kelly admitting that “the mixtape kind of started off with pop one-off hits, with different sounds that really didn’t come together that well. But at the time I was going through a lot emotionally and it was hard for me”. At this moment, it was the first time Kelly was doing anything for herself, an act that seemed easier said than done but has now allowed a level of vulnerability that is undeniable.

When to listen to Good Girls Don’t C** Very Often: When you need someone to remind you

The second track on the project and asset to the project’s title, Hopeless Romantic, starts with the line ‘you don’t be loving me like you used to, you don’t, I know. I already saw the texts from her on your phone.’ Not only can we sense the heartbreak from the very opening but also delves into the subject of betrayal. The most special gift songwriters are able to give this world, is the ability to tell real experiences in a rose-tinted, sweet singing melody, that has listeners singing through pain. Hopeless Romantic tells us where the story is going and how it ends, intended to hold on to every good memory of a person even though that does not exist anymore… Following the theme of heartbreak is the second to last track, Your Girl. Now, this song is almost too relatable, Kelly debates on why she is not a girlfriend, a feeling of unworthiness that is hard to shake off long after heartache. “I think I found that other people found it comfortable too. It came from the place of not being able to be in a secure relationship. I learned how to talk about things I had never spoken about like romance. It has been a long and painful process – I had to rework my voice as well.”

When to listen to Hopeless Romantic and Your Girl: When you need a shoulder to cry on

With every bump in the road, an even stronger person is formed, leading to the next theme of strength. Pretty Girl Style is the single for this one, produced by Menace and Harry James, with Kelly as director of the music video, it is a great pick-me-up. It was even picked up by online fashion brand, Pretty Little Thing for an advert! It is also a small break in a project that is about *that* kind of heart-aching love, true to real-life situations. It is a fun kind of strength, knowing who you are, maybe gassing it a bit but comes from your core. “Are you proud of yourself”, knowing that her journey has been one that requires some strength. “. I’m probably prouder of how I am and how strong I have become,” says Kelly. “I have wanted to give up a million times and never have. I’m prouder of the emotional side of things because that’s what I live and breathe every day.”

When to listen to Pretty Girl Style: When you’re getting ready for a night out

With every great strength comes the ability to be vulnerable first. Our picks for these are Down 4 U and Hoodie. Down 4 U tells the tale of a selfish lover and the heartbreak around that, produced by Neenyo and TOPFLR (Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Omarion), the stripped-back song is one you sing wholeheartedly. Songwriters have mastered the ability to make our most vulnerable moments into an art form that can be useful to any situation. Many musicians, including Kelly who says that music is her form of therapy during the time she was creating Hopeless Romantic. The entire process is natural but only a skill she picked up on in her mid-twenties, taking her a bit of time to believe in her abilities... “I was putting a cap on myself because I didn’t see myself as the person that I am now. You have to understand as well what that I am going through, is the most relatable thing about you, and that’s what helped me write my own music.”

When to listen to Down 4 U and Hoodie: When going through a breakup

These situations always end with the same outcome, with realisation and moments of self-care. Of course, our picks, telling by their names, Change My Number and No Going Back are the perfect duo to finally moving on. “I like to treat myself how I would like to be treated. Because it can get a bit lonely in terms of time being in this job. With work, I tend to not reply to people until I get it done. Being a creative your day isn’t set in stone, so planning and stuff can be kind of overwhelming. So, I try and take care of myself for myself.” No Going Back also marks the beginning of a new chapter for Kelly and new ventures, one of them being her own merch line, marking a step into the fashion industry. She aspires to have a capsule collection, or more, tailored to people with disabilities.

When to listen to Change My Number and No Going Back: All day, every day.

As we have broken down the themes in this emotionally encapsulating project, Kelly reveals that she wants listeners to “understand the journey that I’ve been through and realise that it is possible within themselves as well, my message has always been to inspire people, that are not easy or ‘normal’ and I want to help to be the blueprint for anyone with no idea how to do it, regardless of whatever. To just go and do it and just don’t stop.”

In terms of what is next for Kelly Kiara, she is in an exciting time of her career ready to branch out and test her ability with collaborations, “I think people are starting to see what I am doing id love for them to see what I can do with other artists.” For 2022, we can expect an album that is “a modern take on vintage music”, something that can be heard in the iconic 30 album by Adele. The theme for her debut album, higher.

Listen to the project on all streaming platforms now!