Meet You There
Self-Released, 2018
8/10
The songstress Kiyomi Hawley ended a 7 year break from music with this EP, and her intimate and relatable songs certainly resonate well across Meet You There.
“Miss You Love You” starts the listen with Hawley’s soft, expressive vocals opening the tune before warm keys and agile percussion enter the dreamy atmosphere, and “Wedding Song” follows with a playful delivery of jumpy strings and soaring backing vocals in the festive climate.
The remaining tracks are equally as impressive, including the acoustic guitar fueled “Meet You There”, while “Shine” offers upbeat piano pop where Hawley’s versatile pipes are on full display in the feel good tune. “Little Angel” exits the listen, and finds itself initially in balladry with an eloquent and poetic execution before building into a textured and memorable finish.
Hawley was actually raised in a cult (which she is no longer associated with), and she takes that time and uses it as learning experience that’s often hinted at in her forthright and universally embraceable wordplay. Now that her life has changed direction, her song craft seems to be benefitting as well, as evidenced by this strong comeback record.
Travels well with: Amie Penwell- Windows; Sarah Morris- All Mine