Kay Soul has long been carving her place as one of the most authentic voices in modern soul, and with her upcoming album “Heavy Set,” she turns her personal truth into a soundtrack for resilience. Recorded at Chicago’s Miller Street Studios and produced alongside Anthony Smith, Erik “Mr. Doublebeats” Ficklin, and Byron “BJ” Woodward, the album carries the polish of professional craft while never losing the raw intimacy of Kay’s storytelling. It arrives under her own label, Cornerstone Drive, distributed by Virgin Music Group—a testament to her independent spirit and determination to create on her own terms. With twelve tracks that blend 90s-inspired R&B grooves, gospel sensibilities, and flashes of hip-hop grit, “Heavy Set” is a manifesto of self-worth, pushing back against the pressures to conform to society’s often crushing expectations.
The lead single, “In Between”, sets the tone. It’s a bright, upbeat slice of soul, full of layered harmonies and optimistic momentum, reminding listeners to give thanks even in life’s liminal spaces—the waiting, the wondering, the seasons that feel like they drag on forever. Kay’s voice, warm and unwavering, becomes mentor and companion, encouraging patience and perseverance without sounding preachy. Instead, the track invites listeners to celebrate the journey rather than the destination, echoing her broader message: that even the struggles are worthy chapters in our personal story. Behind her, Anthony Smith’s production lifts the song with subtle instrumentation and a groove that leans toward timeless rather than trendy. It’s music that lasts, and plays well in the moment.
What makes “Heavy Set” compelling, however, is the positivity—it’s the weight beneath it. Kay has described the record as “the diary entries to my soul,” and you can feel that honesty ripple through tracks like “Shell of Me” and “Heavy Heart.” These aren’t songs that shy away from vulnerability. They wrestle openly with insecurity, grief, and the societal constructs that try to dictate beauty, success, and worth. Gospel undertones run deep throughout, not just in instrumentation but in the spiritual grounding of her lyrics—where even doubt feels like part of a bigger search for meaning. When hip-hop wordplay slips into the mix, it sharpens the album’s edges, reminding us that Kay’s soul isn’t soft for softness’ sake, but resilient, weathered, and unwilling to break.
Musically, the project is a lush fusion. The echoes of 90s R&B are unmistakable—silky vocal stacks, warm bass lines, and that unmistakable vibe of groove-meets-balladry. But woven through are atmospheric layers that are cinematic, adding depth and modernity. Gospel choirs and chord progressions lend the record a reverence, while the rhythmic agility of hip-hop cadences ensures it never floats too far from the streets that inspired it. The balance is seamless. One moment, “Corinthians Love” is whispering scripture into melody, the next “On the Block” places listeners in a world where survival and hope intertwine. The versatility speaks to Kay’s range as a writer and performer, and she inhabits genres and stretches them into something distinctly her own.
As a follow-up to her 2024 EP “Heavy Love,” which critics praised for its nuanced takes on love and emotional recovery, “Heavy Set” feels like a continuation and an evolution. Where “Heavy Love” explored the intimate terrain of relationships, “Heavy Set” zooms out to face society itself, daring to ask: how do we define beauty, success, and love in a world determined to distort them? Kay’s answer isn’t simple, but it’s beautifully human, and we define them by living honestly, by refusing to bow to impossible standards, and by embracing the joy and the weight of existence. With “Heavy Set,” Kay Soul delivers music to be heard and testimony to be felt. And as the August release drops, one thing is clear: this album is for the charts and anyone who’s ever carried the heaviness of the world and still found a way to sing.
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