Album Review: Hideaway EP by Kiesza

Hideaway EP by Kiesza

July 7th/July 22nd

(Island Records/Lokal Legend)

Kiesza is everything everyone looks for in a musician. She's fresh, she's talented, she's energetic, she's engaging... but does she have the ability to captivate? I wouldn't have started this review out with "Kiesza is everything everyone looks for in a musician" if she didn't. While it's not quite her full length debut, Kiesza's US Hideaway EP pulls out all the stops, staying strong throughout. Kiesza displays such a rich and interesting blend of styles in these 4 songs alone, something powerful superstars have a hard time with in the vast majority of their full lengths. The extended play's title track sounds familiar yet as inciting as ever, while follow up "Giant In My Heart" has an emotional twist that works surprisingly well with catchy hooks and infused melodies. "So Deep" displays a trace/dance quality that feels so unique and glamorous all together. The EP wraps with a piano and sting cover of Haddaway's dance sensation "What Is Love"; a picture perfect finish to a steadily displayed work of art.

Not only has Kiesza proven to the world that she's an elegant singer with a soft spot for funky deep house, she brings something fresh and new to the deep house game: a personality. While deep house is a grooving dance sub genre that's crawling with freshly baked hits, most of its familiar faces are invisible. Know what Jess Glynne looks like? If you're not living in the UK, then no, you do not. How about that girl behind Secondcity's "I Wanna Feel" and Duke Dumont's "I Got You"? She's not even credited for her #1 works.

Kiesza manages to deliver a small slice of  joy for everyone whether you enjoy dance, trance, deep house, covers, funky hooks, pop infused works, or all of the above. She's not giving everything she's got away either, so be on the lookout. The whole effort "sends a shiver up my spine". I'm looking forward to more.

Rating (Out of 100)

Critical Acclaim

Kiesza has not only showered us with hours of dancing, she's showered us with a brilliantly crafted EP that shows off a decent amount of what she's made of... saving a few surprises for later of course.