Kylie Odetta
High Dreamer
Reviewed by: Adelie Salagnac
When most 18-year-old girls are still trying to find their place in the world, Kylie Odetta is firmly rooted into the music scene and here to stay. South Carolina Indie/Pop/Soul/Blues singer, songwriter and pianist is putting out her latest EP, High Dreamer. It’s a gentle and unique record.
Listening at the five beautifully written tracks of her forthcoming EP, it is hard to believe Kylie Odetta is only 18. Strong vocals, a southern twist, calming pianos and well-crafted lyrics make up Odetta’s refreshing and innocent signature sound. This young yet seasoned artist has come a long way since she wrote her first songs about cats and chocolate, at age eight. She has opened up for Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Austin Mahone and Mat Kearney, put out various records and played hundreds of shows of her own. Odetta is ready to take all of this to the next level, with High Dreamer, her most genuine and pure piece of work so far.
Opening up with “Can’t Erase It”, a simple and clean ballad, Odetta showcases her silky, dreamy voice and tells a sincere and honest story. In just a few seconds, her entrancing vocals and touching lyrics will leave you with hope and inspiration. Close your eyes and you’ll realize that you might as well be listening to one of her breathtaking live performances – a beautiful and raw song. With title track “High Dreamer”, Odetta delivers an encouraging, inspiring number; with “Sweet Innocence” she nostalgically reflects on her teenage years and mourns the loss of her innocence, while still holding hope for its return. Relatable and honest, Odetta puts her inner, deep thoughts into creating soulful songs – and it worked on me.
High Dreamer is a record that really captures Odetta’s own unique style, with a faithful and organic feel to it. Sometimes very poppy and slightly over-edited on her previous released, each of those five tracks feels real – they move you and hit you in the guts. Showcasing an almost Norah Jones-esque touch, Kylie Odetta offers a record stripped down to the bare essentials, breaking her walls down and focusing on delivering an honest piece of work – very refreshing.
Rating: Bad-Ass
