On her latest single, we find Kilamanzego trying new creative approaches and exploring different sonic textures than we’ve heard in her work in the past. Sure, the three-minute “Rush” ripples with a sunburst of synthesizers and a suave tempo not dissimilar to her imaginative back-catalog. But pay attention to the slow-fade lead-in: those are the strums of a Fender Telecaster slowly blooming into the primary melody of the song. It’s Kilamanzego’s first time adding her own guitar to their work, she tells us over email, and it’s also her first stab at a track with a house-y rhythmic undercurrent, making it a perfect instrumental slice of sound to move around to — or get lost in your headphones to, if that’s more your vibe.
It’s been just over a year since Kilamanzego’s tracks “Meditate” and “Black Weirdo” were newly filling out our playlists in summer of 2021, and she’s been busy. She opened for Denver bass star CloZee at Red Rocks Amphitheater last month, and on November 17th will travel to Omaha, Nebraska to play the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts.
She also tells us that a new EP is on the way for spring of 2023, and we can’t wait to hear it. In the meantime, take a listen to the vibrant “Rush” below.