Kelsie Kimberlin – Twinkle (2024)
Known for her energetic, enthusiastic and engaging rush of music, singer-songwriter Kelsie Kimberlin is a voice of our generation. Releasing anthemic tributes to overcoming injustice, fighting prejudice and embracing acceptance in a world of self-discovery, the US-based musician is wise beyond her years; however, exuberance and youth ooze from her melodies give you vulnerable innocence fused with sophisticated maturity. Kimberlin hit our ears in 2022 with ‘Cosmopolitan Girl’ and we knew she was one to follow, so we did. With her track ‘Vlad’ she brought the forcefulness of pop-punk to tumultuous situations, but her sugar-sweet sassiness flared in the Latin pop ‘Parking Lot’. Come with us as we delve into her most recent single, ‘Twinkle’.
One of the singles from her debut album The Drawer, ‘Twinkle’ is a fun, upbeat song with toe-tapping vibes, yet it retains the profoundness of Kimberlin’s social narratives. Tackling the issue of transgender, ‘Twinkle’ explores a provocative subject in today’s society. While this provocative issue has brought out the worst in individuals, some politicians and religious leaders banning media that mention transgender people; there are some who desire acceptance of those who are “different”. Kimberlin explains:
“’Twinkle’ is my celebration of transgender youth at a time in our history where some factions of society want to vilify and erase them… Together we can break down the walls of ignorance, fear and prejudice so every human can live to their full potential with dignity and respect…”
Instead of exposing discrimination and bullying, Kimberlin uses ‘Twinkle’ to celebrate the normality of life for youth who just happen to be transgender. Using a powerful pop melody filled with glitter, sparkling lights, and kaleidoscopic happiness, Kimberlin’s voice travels along synth-driven tones with light-hearted jubilance. Joined by a 12-year-old transgender girl named Dempsey Jara, there is a laidback innocence in ‘Twinkle’. For me, the pop melody conjures feelings of love, fun and sun-drenched moments of smile-inducing bliss; however, it is the lyricism that catches you up. The lyrics, “twinkle, twinkle little star/ you are, you are what you are…” push the confident message of optimistic hope in a challenging society.
In addition to the single, Kelsie Kimberlin made her directorial debut with an official music video for ‘Twinkle’. You can view the video below or on her YouTube channel.
Find out more about Kelsie Kimberlin on her official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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