Along with the announcement of her debut EP Green Car, indie-pop artist Nadia Kadek has released the single “Always Almost Losing You.” Fans of Lizzy McAlpine and Leith Ross will enjoy the British singer-songwriter’s mixture of pop sounds and haunting lyrics.
Starting off the song are the juxtaposing pounding kick drum and soft acoustic guitars. The first verse keeps instrumentation to a minimum, with the electric guitar only joining in the pre-chorus. Heavier instruments are introduced as the song progresses, reflecting the growing uncertainly in the lyrics. For instance, reverb and keys in the second verse do well to create the overwhelming feeling that Kadek describes in her songwriting. By the bridge, the soft pop tonality has developed into a louder sound before it retreats slightly in the last chorus. As the song fades out, an electric guitar melody signals the growing worry of the singer-songwriter as she repeats “I don’t know what to do.”
The lyrics of “Always Almost Losing You” start light before diving into heavier themes. In the first verse, Kadek describes a childhood friend that has drastically changed in early adulthood. However, the worry that the singer finds herself in is soon revealed in the second verse with references to addiction and erratic behaviour: “You tell me how it helps give you wings.” With this, the chorus then holds a much deeper meaning as the artist admits “I don’t what to do / I’m always almost losing you.” This fear of what the future holds is further emphasised by the line “I can’t reach you,” which highlights how helpless Kadek feels in trying to help this friend. Overall, the lyrics do well to trick listeners into a sense of security before escalating into some heavy emotional weight.
“Always Almost Losing You” shows a carefully restrained but well constructed musical craft. Nadia Kadek is clear in her lyrical ideas and well supported by the instrumentation. The debut EP Green Car will be released on the 17th of October.
