Kayla Diamond: Always Been You
Nakedly emotional vocals are delivered atop a sparse production.
By Kerry Doole
Kayla Diamond - Always Been You (Pheromone/Cadence): This Toronto pop singer/songwriter first made a mark in 2018 with her debut EP, Beautiful Chaos, her first Top 10 radio single, What You're Made Of, and her streaming hit Carnival Hearts. Last year's EP, Dirty Laundry, showcased her growth as a writer, an evolution confirmed by this strong new cut.
Always Been You comes out one week ahead of the singer’s upcoming nuptials on Oct. 18, and it stands as a passionate testament to the power of true love. The evocative video was directed by Cazhhmere (Melanie Fiona, Kardinal Offishall and Classified), and Diamond explains that "What I love about it is the aesthetic that we were able to build and capture. It's this kind of candid approach all encapsulated by an eccentric, Wes Anderson- esque looking setting."
The tune itself features sparse and simple production atop which Diamond pours her heart out in convincing fashion ("it ain't the same unless we're here together").
Emotional honesty has been a consistent theme in Diamond's songs, and a label press release notes that "she has become a strong voice for LGBTQ+ community by sharing her experiences growing up in an Orthodox Jewish community and coming out as queer."
Of note: Diamond's versatile vocals have been featured on two major international EDM hits, Kiso's I Took a Pill in Ibiza (over 4 million SoundCloud streams) and Anevo's Feel Something (over 3 million Spotify streams).
Links
PR: Erin Carroll, Cadence Music Group
Management: Katrina Lopes
Booking: Kathleen Reid at Feldman
Aya NakamuraMarion Gomez/Billboard France