Bonafide pop-star Kelly Rowland has made her new EP K available to the masses. After giving it more than a few listens I can unreservedly say that I was genuinely taken by surprise by how much I connected to this offering.

Opening number “Flowers” has a tense, torch-song-meets-dark-electro-ballad weightiness to it. Starting with a pulsating synth-bass note and some shivery tones, the tune kicks things off in a somewhat weighty way. However, once Kelly’s sobering lead vocals and panoramic harmonies stride to the forefront, we are washed in a very vulnerable wave of energy from the vocalist. The song’s repeating “let me bow my head “refrain evokes a sense of reverence that borders on the spiritual. And the serious-minded lyrics convey an important message of showing your loved ones the love and appreciation that they deserve while there is still time to do so. Since I’m not as familiar with Kelly’s solo work as I probably should be, I was expecting K to start off with a bright dance number. So beginning things with something as powerful as “Flowers” quickly made me sit up and pay attention a little bit more than I had been.

Follow-up numbers “Black Magic” and “Hitman” allow Rowland to dive into some quickening afrobeat waters. The former (which has a well-layered funk-45 quality about it) is a fully charged celebration of black life. I almost immediately fell in love with the dusty horn samples and the “lively up yourself” rhythms. The latter keeps the African connections thumping along but digs even more into its afro-funk genes as a sample from the incomparable Fela Kuti gets the good vibes flowing. This time around Ms. Kelly turns on a bit of bewitching charm and impresses as a tempting queen of the dance that’s on the hunt for a man who is skilled at “beating it up”. Both entries showcase Kelly’s talent for straddling the sort of songs that needs to feel bright and breezy with a touch of sexy magic.

The electro-pop piece “Crazy” answers the aromatic flavors offered by “Black Magic” and “Hitman” with some buzzing disco-ball flair. To me, the neon-lit sheen of “Crazy” feels somewhat out of place in comparison to the rest of K. But when it’s considered apart from the rest of the EP, it’s a really vibrant and kind of infectious club cut that rightfully shakes things up for the listener. I also feel the need to add the fact that I had to pause the song at one point and check the credits to see if it featured an appearance by Beyoncé.

An acoustic-ish ballad entitled “Speed of Love” touches down next and delivers a satisfying serving of straight-ahead R&B that probably has its place as a 2021 quiet storm gem already mapped out. While it’s not the EP’s most unexpected moment, the warm strum of the song’s production really spotlights a beautifully smoky quality in Rowland’s voice. There is a moment during the song’s bridge where I kind of expected her voice to soar towards the rafters, but her tender performance greatly underscores the tune’s overall message of not rushing things. It appears that love flows at a speed that is mindful and gentle.

Album closer “Better” brings things full circle as it balances a steady pulsing Afro-Caribbean sound with the tenderness of a straight-from-the-heart piano ballad. Our songstress gives us fields of vulnerability during the song’s quieter moments while simultaneously serving up a confident “fight for love ” aura during the clubbier moments of the production.

In drawing things to a close, I can’t stress enough just how pleasantly surprised I was by this album and how quickly it drew me in. I can’t really speak to whether or not this project displays artistic boundary-pushing for Kelly Rowland, but I think her experiments in afrobeat / afro-funk rooted sounds are especially impressive. I can’t imagine that this EP isn’t just a taste of a longer, fuller project set to drop in the near future. If that’s the case, I’m really looking forward to hearing where the former Destiny’s Child member plans to take her sound next.

You can show your support by streaming the K EP on your favorite digital music spot below as well as check out more from Kelly Rowland by visiting the links listed.

“???” – kimoraleesimmons via Instagram

vibes – dynamic, lively, magnetic, sexy, free-spirited, joyous, celebratory, inviting, energetic, vibrant, alive, beaming, unguarded, confessional, sentimental, putting it all on the line

Stream & buy Kelly Rowland’s music on…
( Amazon | Bandcamp | Deezer | iTunes | Spotify | Tidal )

https://open.spotify.com/album/42ezZUG9Dv7kwhkl1FcRfl?si=28a433b5b35e4820

Connect with Kelly Rowland on…
( Facebook | Instagram | Official Site | Soundcloud | Twitter | YouTube )