Following a two-year hiatus, Kaash Paige has returned with a reflective new project, S2ML. The R&B artist combines soft vocals with lofi-inspired beats to create a contemporary genre-balancing sound. Each track pulls the curtain back on a different aspect of Paige’s life, exploring everything from romance to friendship and family. Despite its emotionally charged tone, Soundtrack 2 My Life feels therapeutic following the singer’s relatable healing journey.
The project opens with the atmospheric “All Girls Cry.” The sound of rain patters quietly through the dramatic bass guitar melody. She harmonizes, “You just know what to do with it I just know and I pursue it.” The feeling of frustration yet temptation reverberates through each verse. This particular song is the singer’s favorite, so much so that the track inspired her most recent tattoo. “I had got three faces tatted on me and two of them are crying. And it says ‘AGC’ on it,” she dishes with a sly chuckle.
Taking a deeper dive into Paige’s R&B side on the next two songs, she belts high-pitched vocals over soulful bass and mellow guitar strums on “My Luv Freestyle.” The high-to-low pattern of her harmony is reminiscent of SZA or Kehlani. “Miss My Dawgs” features 6LACK and grapples with betrayal. With hurt in her voice she shouts, “You don't really f*** with me, only 'cause I'm really in your city now.”
Arguably the most introspective track on the project, “Self Esteem” depicts Paige’s internal dialogue. Through an ethereal beat, she delivers a diary-like tug of war between her confident psyche and intrusive thoughts. She reveals the inspiration for the song stemmed from a female love interest. “I was trying so hard to impress this one girl and I could not impress her,” continuing, “Some people can really drain your energy then we have to bounce back and be like nah I’m the s***. God loves me and I’m taking over. You can’t stop that.” The track is an ode to the artist’s acknowledgment of insecurity and belief in affirmation.
“Doubted Me” picks up the pace of the project. The beat has an electronic vibe with an upbeat hook and rhyme scheme. The slight autotune of her voice is tasteful and catchy. “TMZ” follows the same pattern acting as a metaphorical upper, inciting a bop along to the psychedelic beat. Similar to the chill rager style of Don Toliver, this track is soothing yet enthusiastic at the same time.
Carrying on with the party-infused sound, “AWESOME” is the dance-worthy breakout hit of the project. Paige dropped the music video for the single directly after the release of S2ML. The visual follows the singer on a fun-filled day at Santa Monica Pier with friends. She harmonizes the chorus while riding on a roller coaster, “I’m so drunk right now, too damn turnt I’m not touching the ground.”
The soundtrack mellows back out with “Not Nice” and “24 Hrs” featuring Lil Tjay. Both songs consist of heavy bass and rhythmic melodies that provide a satisfying vibration to the ears. Paige continues to toggle between inflected bars and vocalized verses.
A delicate acoustic tune aids in the transition to “About Last Night.” Her vocals are the focal point, maintaining a consistent tempo. “Girlfriend” has an upbeat pop sound with rolling drums and soft chimes. The lyrics describe the singer’s rockstar lifestyle and those trying to court her. The track is a chill party anthem.
The Dallas native closes out the project with an energetic “You See It.” She softly harmonizes the hook, “I know you see it” with a nonchalant charm. Her verses prove she is a melodic rapper that can serve one humble brag after the other. She raps, “You know what time it is, in that drop top I’m makin’ out with your b****.”
S2ML is a hodgepodge of sounds and styles. Even with its contrast, Paige’s flow is polished and smooth. She invites us to read her diary highlighting her unique ability to story-tell and bringing an out-of-the-box approach to R&B. She is an emotionally available cross between Mick Jagger and Travis Scott. Kaash Paige is the embodiment of the modern-day pop star and she’s just getting started.
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