Taylor Kelly Offers Relief Amid Loss With "The Fire"
Philadelphia songstress Taylor Kelly finds comfort within a sudden loss and comes to terms with grief through perseverance in her latest single, “The Fire.” Known for her poignant lyricism and vibrant, echoing soundscapes, this track balances delicately between jazz, pop, and soul.
Tracked with Robby Webb at Headroom Studios and mastered by Ryan Schwabe, Kelly has worked with a consistently stacked team of musicians for all of her releases. Featuring Matt Keppler on bass, synth bass, and guitar and Logan Roth on keys and synth, the apparent sonic chemistry on this track is undeniable. She’s such a force, and that charisma on her most recent LP, Up Up and Away, is emphasized times ten with a full backing jazz band. This time, “The Fire” exchanges that brass element for an emphatic and synthetic overlay.
Written during a notably dark period in Kelly’s life, the lyrics pull at the tension that occurs during the grieving process and the entanglement of emotions that can overwhelm one’s ability to either move on or plateau. Though the emphasis is on the permanence of loss, the song in itself is anthemic, with a slow uplifting build and a powerful hook. The moments of quiet where Kelly addresses herself alone are heartbreaking and introspective. She implores both herself and the listener to walk through the proverbial fire with her because the best way out is truly always through.
Kelly calls “The Fire” one of the most important songs she’s ever written. It’s personally healing as well as an outreach of hope in the middle of a traumatic loss. Her one-track vocals during the verses ground the listener as a reminder that grief can sometimes feel endless, but the climactic choruses, paired with intense swirling instrumentation serve as a push towards relief. Each instrument alone is intricate and precise, with notable keyboard trills, subtle lone guitar chords, and a synthetic drum beat, but when they ultimately come together the result is a completely syncopated and soulful eruption. Sonically, this track leans more toward an ethereal and vibrative mood, a notable change of pace from songs like “Tell Me” and “Up Up and Away,” which are heavily jazz-infused and upbeat. She certainly achieved the level of maturity and importance that she was aiming for with this. I’m in love with this song and everything she put into it.
Taylor Kelly has a booked month ahead of her:
Mercy Street Bonus Show with Hawthorn on March 18th, Dot Gov’s Bourbon & Branch residency on March 28th, and Rosemeat’s vinyl release at Ortlieb’s on April 19th.
You can stream “The Fire” below.