Kayelle shares an emotional soundtrack to moving abroad and finding home again
Image courtesy of BarrierCollective
KAYELLE, emerging pop artist and singer-songwriter from New Jersey, has released her new single, “Old and New”.
"Old and New" is an intimate folk-pop track about embracing change while holding on to the parts of yourself that existed before loss, loneliness, or betrayal. The heartfelt ballad explores the complex emotions of moving abroad, finding joy in building a new life while grappling with the guilt of leaving home behind. Written during her time in London, the song mirrors Kayelle’s own story as she now returns to her hometown in New Jersey, beginning a new chapter as a Master’s student at New York University.
With its intimate production, mixed and mastered by emerging engineer Thomas Priestley and raw lyricism written solely by herself, “Old & New” captures the bittersweet push and pull between past and present. Kayelle layers in audio from home videos with loved ones to give the song the feeling of reliving memories, hoping this sense of nostalgia encourages listeners to pause and reflect on their own journeys.
“I finished writing Old and New around the time I had just gotten into NYU, and I knew for sure that I was moving away from London. I was still feeling unsure about the decision to leave, it was overwhelming choosing between two places that each held so many memories for me.”
Kayelle reflects on what it means to love the life you’ve created elsewhere while knowing it may not last forever. The single marks a pivotal moment in her artistry compared to previous work. “It feels really full circle to be back in my home country starting my next chapter, and releasing Old and New, as my new life becomes my old one and the roles reverse again.”
“Old and New” is available on all major streaming platforms. Listen here now.
Image courtesy of BarrierCollective
I’m KAYELLE, and I make dreamy pop songs largely inspired by folk, soul, and indie pop music. I grew up in suburban New Jersey playing classical piano and violin, and was glued to my headphones in high school listening to Frank Ocean, SZA, Ryan Beatty. My upcoming music talks a lot about living abroad on my own, building a life for myself and having to leave it all in the span of just a few years. It’s about moving on but looking back, and I hope you enjoy listening.