Kay Greyson - Paris
Rapping and performing since she was a teenager, the 22 year old Kay Greyson has gained a reputation in Newcastle as the hardest working artist there is. Period.
Her sound fuses the flair and style of modern hip hop with the skill and sensibilities of the golden era, hitting with the vibe of Lil Uzi Vertand the substance of Mos Def.
Making a name for herself through her exuberant live performances, Kay has supported hip-hop legends such as The Game, KRS One, DJ Yella and Akala.
Alongside this, she has performed at The Royal Albert Hall for the MYF Youth Proms, BBC Introducing Live in London and to a packed out crowd at Hit The North music festival. Combined with a string of top drawer singles, these shows earned her the award of Newcomer of the Year at the 2019 Journal Culture Awards.
Kay has kept the forward momentum rolling into 2020, selling out her first headline show at Bobiks, Newcastle.
And she now brings us her latest EP Paris, which was released today, Friday 3 July.
Paris is the lead single from the EP and is driven by some some spine tingling piano keys supported by a rhythmic drum beat.
Kay’s opening line is “I ride around Paris on my bike, on my bike” although she has never been to Paris, she imagines she is there when cycling around Newcastle’s West End. It’s a metaphor for her freedom.
There are some great lyrics to the track I dig the lines “the rain comes down but I don’t care, I let it fuck up my hair, it won’t fuck up my mood, no no boy it won’t dare, no no boy it won’t dare, no no boy it won’t dare”.
All dealing with that same sense of escapism, Paris is a fantastic introduction to the EP.
Next up is Call The Police this has a heavier beat which is drum led and vocals delivered with a bit more intensity, it’s a story of a party that may have ended up on the livelier side.
The lyrics starts about arriving at the party “don’t know when I was supposed to get here, I just know it weren’t this time, don’t know if I’m late, don’t care if I’m late, I’m great twenty five eight, no bad days”.
The chorus of the song is perfect for a live gig, it will send the crowd nits as they bellow the words back “you’ll have to call the police, you’ll have to call the police, you’ll have to call the police, ……………,…………., you’ll have to call the police, if you want us to leave call the fuckin’ police”.
Call The Police is a buzzin’ track really gets you up and makes you want to bounce along with the beat.
The final track is Sweet Rum Punch this describes the story of Kay’s annual pilgrimage to London’s Notting Hill Carnival as the opening lines she sings “I go to London Town about once in a year, get so drunk I forget that I’m here”.
This track has a more funky beat, driven by an almost humming melody, and a drum beat which almost akin to steel drums, once again Kay delivers a catchy bounce along verse when she sings “all you make me say is oh my god you’re so sweet, all you make me say is oh my god, all you make me say is oh my god you’re so sweet, all you make me say is oh my god“.
The titular Sweet Rum Punch is not omitted as Kay sings “carnival you gotta have a good time, take a rum punch make you unwind”.
This is the first time I was aware of Kay Greyson and what a brilliant introduction to her music, I loved the Paris EP, particularly Kay’s ability to write catchy verses that will see a crowd get fully involved.
I have heard so much great music recently coming out of the North East of England I definitely need to plan a weekend or two down there once gigs are back.
Tracklist
Paris
Call The Police
Sweet Rum Punch
Give Paris a stream now:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1gezrxVh4rskZw55Kxpn0q?si=140fv86TTO2W-RtC6Buz1Q
Kay Greyson can be followed on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Spotify:
https://www.facebook.com/KaYaZ.AFRO.730
https://instagram.com/kaygreyson?igshid=p22wnqpin50r
https://twitter.com/KayGreyson
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5FNhnQmgiJ9ZHhxOsd8PZW?si=OwSffQRxTfOoe00hyF67XA