East London’s Kianja spills her soul in “Place for Me,” a tender and gentle upheaval whose graceful ebbs and flows tackle deep fears and insecurities about control of one’s life, fate, destiny, and the future.
Stream: “Place for Me” – Kianja
Raw, aching passion and heart-on-sleeve vulnerability coalesce in Kianja’s new single as the singer/songwriter searches for purpose, meaning, and a foothold on which to stand – both within herself, and in the world at large. Kianja spills her soul in “Place for Me,” a tender and gentle upheaval whose graceful ebbs and flows tackle deep fears and insecurities about control of one’s life, fate, destiny, and the future.
No one will take me seriously.
But I don’t wanna to lose integrity.
I try to do the best that I can.
But I’m not in control, there’s no plan.
I wanna know, I wanna know…
Is there a place for me?
I wanna know, I wanna know…
Is there a place for me?
Released May 14, 2021 via The Other Songs, “Place for Me” arrives as Kianja’s first single of 2021, following the East London artist’s acclaimed three-track EP In a Different Light which came out in early December.
Gentle acoustic guitars, tastefully subtle pianos, and easy-flowing drums weave a sweet tapestry alongside Kianja’s smoldering vocals as the artist bares her innermost self in song. Diving into many of the future-related uncertainties we might otherwise try to avoid, rather than dwell on, “Place for Me” comes to life like a majestic musical caress upon the cheek. Poignant, relatable lyrics melt on the ears as Kianja makes every moment one of intimacy and radiant connection:
My fate is written out of my hands.
Although I understand this,
It’s fucking hard to come to terms with.
Why am I so impatient with myself?
Will I ever be enough.
I wanna know, I wanna know…
Is there a place for me?
I wanna know, I wanna know…
Is there a place for me?
“Everything is uncertain,” Kianja tells Atwood Magazine. “I penned this song in the third lockdown, it was starting to feel like the walls were caving in. I was juggling family issues, financial issues, finding my identity, all the real-life shit that no one wants to talk about on Instagram. Sometimes it can be hard to make peace with the fact that my fate is out of my control, but it’s so important to stay present. I’m very lucky to have songwriting as a channel to fully address how I feel. I still have moments of doubt and fear, I assume everyone does. All I can do is keep it moving, keep learning and consistently create a place for me.”
Like everybody else, I need a little help.
Somewhere to belong, someone.
I wanna know, I wanna know…
Is there a place for me?
Tranquil and stirring, “Place for Me” takes an all-too familiar kind of turmoil and restlessness and turns them into a space of serene reflection and peaceful thought. Kianja may not find many answers in this song, but she creates a safe space to put her questions into the world, giving voice to emotions we so often silence.
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Stream: “Place for Me” – Kianja
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