At the beginning of the year, UK five-piece KAWALA released “American Adrenaline,” an indie pop anthem that highlighted the band’s summery persona and driven spirit. Despite its vibrant sound, the song also featured lyrics that focused on giving in to what you want while chasing after what you need – a concept that many can relate to on a day-to-day basis. It was a perfect introduction to 2024 for KAWALA, setting the band up for an exhilarating year. As we head into spring, the group is keeping their momentum going with “What’s Up,” which takes on a different tone from “American Adrenaline” but is still 100% KAWALA.
A form of comfort for a friend in need, “What’s Up” taps into the ways you can be there for those you hold close in your heart. There are quite a few car metaphors on this single, lines like “What’s good? / Is the problem under the hood?” and “I heard it from a friend you’re in need of some repairs / Maybe I can relight your spark,” making it a serious but fun approach to letting someone know you’re there to help. All the while, we get mystical background riffs, cool and collected guitar and drum lines, and groovy rhythms that coast along to lead singer Jim Higson’s tame vocals. Obviously, you can’t fix a person like you can a car, but putting in the work and effort to be there for them can make a difference. You can check it out below.
So far this year, KAWALA have supported Bombay Bicycle Club on their UK and Ireland tour, which made stops in Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton, and Cardiff. They are also just finishing a run with Giant Rooks across Europe. In May, KAWALA will set out on their own headline tour, which will include a sold-out show at London’s HERE at Outernet. You can find tickets and the full list of dates here.
You can listen to “What’s Up” on platforms like SoundCloud, Apple Music, and Spotify.
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