LAMP TOTD: Kaleena Zanders, Ray Garrison - REMEDY
‘Remedy’ is a passionate plea to all of us in the entertainment industry to address addiction with love and empathy, not with greed and exploitation.
Addiction is a topic many of us are familiar with, and for some one that hits extremely close to home. For Kaleena, that moment came back in 2019 with the passing of Juice WRLD.
"Ray Garrison and I wrote this song a few days after Juice WRLD's death,” Kaleena Zanders explains. Substance abuse continually takes the lives of our youth, and it's sad that certain artists are glorified and exploited in the music industry for having extreme addictions and mental issues. I pray that we learn how to help struggling people, instead of use their problems for personal gain."
Evident in Zanders powerful opening vocal lines, emotions run high throughout ‘Remedy. Kaleena, takes us on a emotional, inward journey that explores the juxtaposition of fame and mental health; with the later a form of social currency hawked at the expense of its bearer.
The opening bars welcome a sombre guitar riff, reminiscent of early grunge rock ballads of the 90s. Rolling snares, double kicks and a thick bass line join the arrangement, quickly transforming the track into a heart pounding story that blends between a plethora of genres.
The track’s message calls out for a pancea for the pain and strife that is plaguing our protagonist, and this swirl of emotions really hit their crescendo during the song’s first breakdown as Kaleena’s voice is joined by several backing layers to create a chorus of anthemic proportions. Her collaborator Ray Garrison’s previous work with sombre (and at times macabre) themes seems like an appropriate pairing to help deliver Kaleena’s message with vigor and empathy.
This latest release is a continuation of Zanders’ recent solo work into socially prevalent topics that stem from her own personal experiences inviting us to see the world through her eyes. ‘Remedy’ is a passionate plea to all of us in the entertainment industry to address addiction with love and empathy, not with greed and exploitation.
The singer’s versatility continues to grow from strength to strength with each release, and we hope to hear much more from her on a range of important issues in the future.
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Following on the heels of her recent single “SET ME OFF” and the accompanying music video, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-producer Kaleena Zanders returns to the runway with “REMEDY.” Dubbed “Supernova Songstress” thanks to her rapturous vocals and empowering lyrics, the Coachella performer doles out hip-hop, R&B, and alternative rock sounds with her latest stirring anthem “REMEDY.”
A collaboration with Ray Garrison, who has produced alongside artists like OG Maco, “REMEDY” channels Zanders’ inner Scorpio in a dance of emotional guitars and 808’s. Zanders’ bridge haunting vocals soar in an angelic chorus, guiding the phoenix into altitudes of love, healing, and transformation. Inspired by the death of Juice WRLD, “REMEDY” progresses as a call against the strings of abandonment and abuse rooted in an industry that exploits its talent in exchange for wealth.
Zanders introduced us to her bionic superwoman-self in “SET ME OFF,” and welcomes us into a more introspective shade of herself in “REMEDY.” A next step in the narrative of Zanders’ path to ultimate personal development that began with “RELOAD,” “REMEDY” continues the climb towards spiritual heights as Zanders journeys from one polarity to another.
Zanders first stepped away from electronic music vocal features and into the current iteration of her solo project back in October with “RELOAD,” which chronicled her experience with police brutality. “SET ME OFF” similarly railed against the system, and was featured on Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger on Freeform.
The songbird has already achieved mainstream recognition with her commanding sound, gracing the covers of Spotify’s editorial playlists like Dance Rising and Mint. She performed on Oprah Winfrey’s 2020 VISION TOUR, and her biggest hit to date, “Stronger Than I’ve Ever Been,’’ premiered during Super Bowl LII for Toyota. The track scored syncs with the 2018 Winter Olympics, America’s Got Talent, Fox, VH1, and was featured at the Women’s US OpenFinal with Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka.
On the dance music front, she’s dominated airwaves with her vocal features for electronic music stars like Loud Luxury, Breathe Carolina, Morgan Page, Moon Boots, SNBRN, and AC Slater. Zanders’ music has been released through notable dance labels including Spinnin’ Records, Armada Music, and Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak, earning her over 100 million Spotify streams.
Zanders’ solo efforts showcase her ability to careen through a medley of indie, rock, pop, blues, and more. Capturing audiences with her powerful voice and magnetic stage presence, years of musical theater have crafted Zanders’ showmanship comparable to that of Tina Turner and Prince.
Instagram: @kaleenazanders
Twitter: @kaleenazanders