Nina Kalinina – Kill My Love (2021)
Breakups can be really hard for some people to accept. This is what Nina Kalinina with the help of Len use as the basis of their single ‘Kill My Love’. Through the dreamy and mellow tones of the track, they tell the story of someone who laments the rejection of a breakup, tries to change the other person’s mind then realises that their behaviour was the problem all along.
This tale of broken-hearted realisation combines the electronic pop sounds of Kalinina with the inspired vocals of Len. The two were introduced to each other by a friend of their friend and worked through the pandemic on the track while never actually meeting. With a tale from two points of view, the single is a wonderful take on breakup ballads.
‘Kill My Love’ opens with Len’s vocals which draw you in with a wonderful alt-pop tone. There is a gentleness to his voice that you sink into as he leads you into the breakup of the lyrics. His vocals take a slightly darker turn when he takes you to the other side of the relationship and tries to force a change of heart. There are some really amazing vocal movements in the track as you are taken through the three phases. His performance takes you through the heartbreak of the relationship ending, the darkness of changing someone’s decision and finally ends on a light note while asking for forgiveness.
Beneath his vocals is a moving melody that offers mellow vibes with a depth of emotion. There is a sadness resting in the shuffling beats of the opening as the relationship comes to an end. The higher tones are glinting lights that pleasantly interact with the deeper tones of the lower levels. As the darkness creeps into the vocals, there is something sinister that works its way between the beats. This adds to the darkness of the vocals while the beats pick up pace. The string tones that swing you to the final act of the track are beautiful as they bring a realisation and apology.
Nina Kalinina and Len collaborate to take you through the three phases of taking a breakup badly in ‘Kill My Love’. Len’s vocals are a delicate draw as he takes you through the story of the lyrics. Resting beneath his vocals is an emotive melody that captures the essence of the single while adding its own movement to enhance the story.
Find out more about Nina Kalinina on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
