For anyone who has felt the desperation to shed the facades worn to appease others and unapologetically don their own unfeigned guise, Kimi Nickerson’s latest alt-pop tour de force is the ultimate anthem for self-reclamation.
Boundaries is an artfully moody electronic pop ballad that quickly breaks away from convention with its dark reverberant synth-driven melodies and bass-punched syncopated beats. As Nickerson layers her vocals to create a one-woman choir, the track takes on an arcane atmosphere that is guaranteed to spill from the soundwaves into your soul.
The production paints a scene of gritty defiance with its cinematic instrumentation and delicate high-end frequencies that purposefully carry the vocal narration. It is a haunting exploration of reclaiming personal power, and if you’ve ever shrunk into yourself to please someone else, Boundaries will scratch far beyond the surface.
Drawing inspiration from NF, Jon Bellion, and BANKS, Kimi fused electronic synths with modern trap and drill drums to create a genre-defying synthesis to platform her raw, thought-provoking lyrics and memorable alternative melodies.
The track is a paradoxical cocktail of soulful spirituality and dark, domineering aesthetics. It’s a juxtaposition that not only underscores the thematic power of the track but also elevates it as a defining moment in Nickerson’s discography.
Boundaries will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from September 26th.
Review by Amelia Vandergast