Pop/Review Kelsie Kimberlin - Walking Away
Kelsie Kimberlin is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter who has been involved with music her entire life, starting with children’s and church choirs and then recording her first song at age eight for Yoko Ono’s Peace Project, which won first prize and a $5000 award. She spent all of that money on music lessons and started recording her own music in the studio at age 12. Over the past several years, she has recorded more than 100 original songs.
With a moving music video that she directed herself while in Kyiv, Ukraine, Kelsie Kimberlin's "Walking Away" is a potent hymn of freedom and resiliency. The song explores the emotional process of accepting independence, starting a new chapter in life, and letting go of the hurt and trauma caused by a poisonous relationship.
The song's themes of power and regeneration are reflected in the video, which is a highly symbolic visual story. Working with the gifted filmmaker Pavlo Khomiuk, Kimberlin represents the process of letting go of emotional baggage by using the picture of her walking through the early morning streets while removing layers of clothing. She is seen holding a teddy animal, which highlights the unvarnished honesty of her experience while also expressing fragility and optimism.
A deep level of importance is added by the choice to shoot in Kyiv. The music video makes subtle allusions to Ukraine's struggle for independence and fortitude in the face of adversity, drawing comparisons between individual and national conflicts. In the same way that Ukraine has bravely moved past its history of abuse while still confronting its abuser, Kimberlin's tale represents the worldwide struggle for freedom and self-determination.
Musically, Kimberlin's stirring lyrics and expressive voice perfectly convey the spirit of persevering in the face of adversity. Her voice's unadulterated quality and the profundity of her message are highlighted by the subtle arrangement. More than just a song, "Walking Away" is an powerful declaration of survival, which makes Kimberlin's work both intensely personal and universally relevant.