Project Description

KARA CONNOLLY

‘Life in Rear View’

Album Review

Reviewer: Gayatri Chaturvedi

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About Kara Connolly:

Kara Connolly has it all: charisma, a commanding stage presence, an emotive voice, and that rare gift for writing songs that are simultaneously heartfelt, sincere and undeniably infectious upon first listen. Given her ability to connect with an audience, it’s no surprise that Kara sold-out the iconic Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, the very venue that Katy Perry and Sara Bareilles got their start, before ever having released a single song. And now with a full-length album on its way, Kara Connolly has the opportunity to reach an audience as universal as her songs themselves.

Her debut music video for first single, “Life in Rear View”, has garnered over 185K views thus far and the song and its video both received high praise in a variety of popular publications such as Popdust and PopMatters. Connolly’s upcoming LP of the same name, a unique, genre-bending blend of percussive pop, folk, and country, takes you on a journey from breakdown to breakthrough. What begins with heartbreak, ends in triumph as Kara reminds us, through personal experience, the importance of friendship, vulnerability, acknowledging our own self-worth, and never settling for less than the love and respect we deserve. Tastemaker blog, The Line of Best Fit, calls it, “invitingly open-hearted.”

She has this rare ability to deliver wisdom in a light-hearted and cheeky way that only someone as magnetic and relatable as Kara could pull off. “They say man up, but I want a man who’s bold enough to cry when he’s sad – If you treat me right, you can spend the night; If you treat me wrong – well then…so long” she winks in “Nice Guy”, a song premiered by Parade Magazine that brilliantly takes on our deep-rooted culture of toxic hyper -masculinity and encourages young women to demand the respect they deserve, all while making you laugh and sing along. “My goal was to create something fun and honest that you could sing to, with hopes that after a second listen you may realize you’re singing something empowering,” she explains.

What began with Kara singing, “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” at a summer cruise ship talent show as a young woman…of 6, led to her writing fully formed relationship songs back when the only man in her life was a stuffed animal named “Doodle Bear.” Since then, the San Diego native has continued to write what she considers “relationship songs with a twist,” although she now draws from her own life.

“I feel very called to empower and connect with the next generation of young women and hopefully inspire them to acknowledge their own worth and not put up with the kind of treatment that my generation and those of the past have experienced. I believe in the power of music to inspire and I hope that through humor and heart my songs can provide a new perspective for both women and men.”

Kara’s upbeat and colorful take on modern feminism, produced by Bill Lefler (Ingrid Michaelson) and mastered at the legendary Capitol Records, is sure to be playing on repeat.

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Serving up a perfect blend of glittery indie-pop, folk and country, Kara Connolly delivers heartfelt lyrics and addictive melodies on her debut album Life in Rear View released on May 17^th (produced by Bill Lefler via Capitol Records). Bold and cinematic are seemingly the two crowning features of the new record as the Los Angeles-based songstress elucidates the power in vulnerability. Taking listeners along the swirling journey of love, Kara navigates the stages of longing, heartbreak and self-assurance,  peppering in wit and wisdom culminating to an album centred on empowerment.

Opening with the title track, Life in Rear View, the acoustically driven tune provides the initial taste of what’s to come in the following 11 songs. Pairing invitingly warm guitar riffs with lightly pulsating rhythms, Kara brings a lush, brightness that shines through the soaring vocals of the chorus. Reminiscing of lost love and looking forward to what the future holds, the titular track is the perfect anthem highlighting the importance in looking forward, embracing change and acknowledging your self-worth above all.

The playfully addictive guitar riffs of the second track Nice Guy are immediately reflective of Kara’s ability to deliver nuggets of wisdom decorated in a cheeky light-hearted manner. As she relays her desire to find a ‘Nice Guy’, she cleverly challenges the ingrained culture of toxic masculinity through her witty and thoughtful lyrics.

“They say man up, but I want a man who’s bold enough to cry when he’s sad.”

Catchy and fearless is the third track If It’s Jack, bathed in sparkling instrumentals and buttery vocals. Juxtaposing cheerful sonics with passionate, forthright lyrics, Kara recounts the familiar yet painful cycle of being blinded by love and losing ourselves to those who don’t treat us as we deserve. The swirling melodies bring a lightness to the tune as we are reminded to only accept the love and respect we deserve- a true moment of empowerment.

Swing, Swing, the fourth track in the album provides a change in pace as a beautifully mellow, hauntingly moody cover of The All-American Reject’s single. Picking up on the melancholic sentiments expressed in the original track, Kara provides an ethereal reinterpretation replacing the angst and triumph of the pop-punk rendition with her quintessential airy vocals and lusciously smooth instrumentals.

The anthemic Let Me Go follows next, bouncing between moments of quiet determination and sweepingly bold proclamations of liberation. Addressing co-dependency and the experience of trying to break away from the gripping expectations of others as well as your own fears, the song speaks of regaining control over oneself and stepping into the life you truly desire to lead. The turning point in the track comes after the quiet build-up presented in the bridge. There’s an undeniable energy that simmers just below the surface before it proceeds to burst through the seams and releases in a chilling moment of catharsis!

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The 6^th track Fall is yet another dive into the experience of letting yourself fall completely in love with someone. The lightness of the song is illuminated by bubbly instrumentals and effortless harmonies that emulate the warmth of the iconic Californian sun rays.

Characterised by a combination of both bouncy and heavier bluesy-rock guitar riffs, Kara’s vocals shine once again on the 7^th track Highlight Reel. Demonstrating her ability to fluctuate between a powerful assertions and delicate revelations the versatile singer-songwriter sings about our tendencies as human beings to mask our flaws and only put our ‘Highlight Reel’ on display for the world to see. Once again, the uplifting track serves as a moment of honest reflection urging listeners to embrace their flaws and seek power in being open.

WTF – the 8^th track of the album- is yet another nod to the playfully genuine song writing of the artist as she expresses those universal moments of frustration and confusion experienced by just about everyone. The lyrical narrative is frequently punctuated by light-hearted snippets of conversation and backed by danceable beats. This is definitely the track that will get you dancing around and singing along to the unabashedly addictive chorus!

The 9^th track Abuser follows the singer’s relinquishing of a manipulative partner. Each progressive moment within the track indicates the regaining of control and self-empowerment with the arrival of a driving percussive rhythm and the addition of punchy brass instrumentals.

A drifting ballad that floats along the backdrop of summery guitar riffs, the 10^th track Like I’ve Never Loved Somebody is a romantic ode to newfound love. Once again Kara’s signature lightness shines through her direct and open lyrics that lay encased in shimmering backing vocals. Similar sentiments follow through the 11^th track Marry Me– an open letter about taking risks and savouring each moment in life as it comes.

The album closes with Other People a dreamy pop-ballad glazed with Kara’s classic pluckiness that paints an image of youthful reminiscence. The swelling chorus peppered with spirited strings leads to quiet reflection in the bridge, ultimately delivering a powerful yet bittersweet recount of times that have passed.

“Now we’re dancing with other people

Orbiting around the same sun”

Tying together the essence of romance and self-discovery, Kara’s record is an homage to the importance of self-growth and vulnerability as she draws on personal experiences to convey universal messages.

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KARA CONNOLLY on Social Media
Official Site | Facebook | Twitter
 Instagram | YouTube

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AMNPLIFY – DB