Kanisha K - Bet on Me
The sultry, bluesy timber of Kanisha
K’s voice is an ideal fit for her newest single “Bet on Me”. Originally
conceived as a love song, Kanisha’s own interpretation of the track’s lyrics
evolved to a place where she also heard the track as a statement of self-affirmation,
a reminder to herself and any would-be naysayers that she has all the necessary
ingredients to realize her dreams. She’s clearly in the process of realizing
her music dreams thanks to a string of successful, award-winning single release
and her national exposure is increasingly exponentially with each new outing.
Joe Vulpis co-wrote the song with Kanisha, but his hand is virtually invisible
and this feels one hundred percent like something torn from Kanisha’s heart
alone. The mood is, in turns, indefatigable and rousing. “Bet on Me” is
entertaining, but it’s also a deeply emotional experience unafraid to
communicate with its audience.
Kanisha is the center of its
communicative power. She hurls herself into every passage of this song without any
fear, especially on the chorus, and that commitment to getting this song over
is one of its finest qualities. It isn’t all exertion and bloodied passion
however. Her phrasing skills and the instinct for when NOT to sing is equally
important; she’s able to step back and allow the band to help her without
ceding any of the spotlight and it makes her contributions all the more
impactful. When the song’s pinnacles arrive, she’s there with every word and
makes the most of the song’s relatively terse lyrical content. Lyrics are a
vehicle for self-expression, but they have to be carefully orchestrated in such
a way that they dovetail into the musical content rather than overshadowing it
and she strikes that balance here with great skill.
“Bet on Me” benefits greatly from its
musical backing. The guitar playing has a warm, gritty bite connected quite
tightly to same qualities in her vocal while the piano playing gives the song’s
movement a stately mood while creating tender, deeply felt melodies. There’s
not one musical moment when the players opt for overwrought expression.
Instead, everything is carefully modulated and never errs too far from one side
to another. The balance, without ever risking any undue clutter, is quite
remarkable and something one doesn’t often hear in this musical genre. “Bet on
Me” maintains a firm pop sensibility while still making substantive musical,
lyrical, and vocal statements. You can bet on Kanisha K because, with this
caliber of talent, she’s not going anywhere but upward and onward. It’s a
fantastic performance from start to finish with top shelf material and
supremely skilled backing that makes its mark on the infant year as one of
2017’s best cuts thus far. This is a musical artist who will be around for many
years to come not just based on talent alone, but her will and drive to
succeed.
Michael Saulman
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