Standing out as one of the biggest talents in her generation, Jenna Kay is part of a new wave of pop heroes seeking to scramble the status quo and connect with a worldwide audience. She might just as well make it: her formula leans on familiar rock and pop tones, yet is delivered with extraordinary introspection and uplifting boldness. ‘smartsass’ is the perfect evidence of that. Kay’s second EP to date, the record feels electrifying and brooding, and it often embraces anthemic guitar-laden territories, all mixed with mainstream pop flair and the occasional hints of soulful elegance.
Tracks like ‘poet’ are exuberant, honest and earth-shaking, both from a sonic and lyrical point of view. ‘idk her’ showcases Jenna’s emotional vulnerability, a sign that next to all of the explosive hooks and resonant choruses, there’s still time for tenderness and melancholy. The EP closes with ‘jenna explains smartsass’, a hybrid between a spoken words piece and a vocal note, adding a touch of leftfield and creative punch to an already expansive record.
Delving deeper into the creative ethos behind the EP, Kay explains: “Smartsass is my attitude in album form, it’s me owning my voice, saying the things I used to keep quiet. It’s confident, sarcastic, emotional, and unapologetically honest. These songs are about growing up, standing your ground, and realising you don’t have to shrink yourself to be liked.” Such striking self-confidence and artistic maturity are put on full display in ‘smartsass’, a record marking a potential new era for the American songstress.
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