Recommended tracks: “Flickering Light,” “Candy Eyes,” “I Don’t Know U, But Love Me 2”
Artists you might like: Thandii, Toro Y Moi, Parviz
Although spring just arrived, summer is around the corner, and it brings with it patio season and an energetic nightlife that comes alive with disco/soul and new jack swing drenched in neon lights. It sets a cinematic mood of a guy and a girl meeting at a bar before transitioning to the dance floor, where conversations and sparks fly.
That’s the setup for Los Angeles-based R&B/soul duo King Pari‘s new EP Flickering Light. The duo, consisting of Cameron Durell Kinghorn and Joe Paris Christensen, have dedicated the EP to love: the will they/won’t theys, missed connections, yearning, and admiration.
Starting off the EP is the titular track “Flickering Light.” The song is about the will they/won’t theys, made famous by the beloved ’90s sitcom Friends between the characters Ross Geller and Rachel Green. “Flickering Light” opens to an amalgamation of new jack swing and disco production backed by Cameron’s silky falsetto vocals that have a similar quality to that of the late Michael Jackson.
We then transition to a mid-tempo dance track, “My Name’s Not Tony.” Imagine being in a club when your alter ego kicks in and you meet someone attractive. You approach the person and start a conversation, give them a compliment or two, only to eventually meet rejection. The song features heavy drum machines, bass, guitar, wind instruments, and vocals to create this specific atmosphere.
“Candy Eyes” is inspired by the legendary Minneapolis R&B duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Here, the duo combines elements of funk and soul to create a song about being in a potential situationship in which you might be falling in love, but are unclear if the other person is ready to commit.
“I Don’t Know U, But U Love Me 2” is the final dance track, opening to an energetic, hypnotic drum machine loop and disco aesthetics amplified by Cameron’s high falsettos. His lyrical delivery makes it clear he’s romanticizing and fantasizing about “The One.”
King Pari’s Flickering Light adds a delicate dimension to their discography about love, covering everything from situationships to yearning. The message is amped up by an amalgamation of instruments and genres swirling together to create an almost hypnotic vibe. We’d recommend adding it to a curated playlist to send to your crush or simply playing it at a party.
You can listen to Flickering Light here.
Keep up with King Pari: Instagram // Facebook // TikTok // Website // YouTube // Bandcamp
