If you’ve ever wondered what it would sound like to bottle up all your angst, uncertainty, and raw emotional energy, only to shake it up and let it explode in a flurry of electrifying indie-pop, Kynsy’s ‘Utopia’ EP has your answer. The Irish indie powerhouse is no stranger to genre-hopping, but this time she’s kicked things up several notches – delivering a blend of introspection and defiance that’s as musically adventurous as it is emotionally vulnerable.
With tracks like the Joel Amey-out-of-Wolf-Alice-co-written ‘Body’ capturing the essence of self-liberation from toxic relationships, and the title-track ‘Utopia’ offering a meditative escape into sonic euphoria, Kynsy has crafted a record that feels as restless as it is empowering. From the cheeky indie bops of ‘Stereo Games’ to the rock-fuelled depths of ‘Formaldehyde’, each song builds on the last, creating an EP that takes you through the messy, cathartic process of breaking free and finding yourself.
Now, Kynsy breaks down each track on ‘Utopia’, offering a glimpse into the stories and sounds that make this release her boldest yet.
Body
This song began as a collaboration with Joel Amey from Wolf Alice. We had been discussing the idea of co-writing for a while, but our schedules as musicians kept delaying things. Eventually, Joel sent over a track, which became the foundation for what is now “Body.” It was essentially the backing music, and I began experimenting with it, layering my own lyrics and melodies over the top. It was an entirely new way of working for me, and the process felt really energizing.
Joel’s track had this 90s heavy rock/pop vibe, almost bordering on pop-punk, which was a sound I’d never explored before. I was excited to see if I could shape it into something that resonated with me.
Lyrically, the song draws from a toxic relationship I was in for years. It was one of those situations where things spiralled out of control, and I felt trapped. Even though the person was still part of my life when I wrote this, I was mentally trying to push myself toward the strength to leave. The lyrics reflect that internal struggle – when I first met them, I was a very different person, and back then, things made sense. But over time, I realized we were on completely different wavelengths. We were so intertwined, though, that the idea of leaving felt almost impossible.
The line “to the future” is about looking ahead and recognizing how much better I’d be on my own. “The water keeps flowing from the hills to the drains” represents the passage of time and how I felt stuck, dealing with the same problems over and over.
The fear in my head was the fear of change, but deep down, my body and instincts knew leaving was the right decision. In a way, this song became a declaration to myself – a reminder to trust my gut, something I’ve always found difficult, especially as someone who’s struggled with anxiety for most of my life.
Utopia
This song started as an old voice memo I had lying around for a while, which I always felt had the potential to become something special. There were no lyrics at the time, but one day, I felt compelled to work on it. During that period, I was really into St. Vincent’s ‘Daddy’s Home’ album. I loved the slow, strange guitar sounds and the psychedelic eeriness of some of the tracks, and I wanted to bring a bit of that energy into this song’s arrangement, which already had a slow ballad feel.
Lyrically, the song captures a sense of freedom – breaking free from past troubles. It’s a personal and introspective song, written from a place of reminiscing on a time when my life felt stagnant. I was living in my parents’ house in Dublin, working hard to establish my music career, but internally, I was unhappy with my situation. I kept talking myself out of leaving, even though deep down, I knew that staying in the suburban life where I grew up was isolating me. I needed more stimulation and life experiences to feel fulfilled. Living in my childhood room every day only heightened my depression and anxiety, and I often took long, anxious walks just to clear my head.
When I finally listened to myself and decided to leave, everything changed – both externally and internally. The chorus and pre-chorus of this song capture that moment of liberation when you finally trust yourself and follow your true desires. That’s when the anxiety and emptiness started to fade away. The line “Utopia and me, I’m crying but I’m free” reflects the feeling of reaching that inner sanctuary I had been searching for, but also the sadness and regret of realizing that I had been holding myself back out of fear for so long.
The line “This life never needed to be so hard, right?” reflects the realization that I had built up negative thought patterns over the years, convincing myself that life was difficult, that the musician’s grind was inherently tough, and that everything was a struggle. As a solo musician, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that the weight of the world is on your shoulders, making it harder than it needs to be. But as I’ve grown, I’ve had to consciously work on enjoying the process, choosing joy and fun over the grind. The “moving on motorways” line references travelling around to play shows, serving as a reminder that I still get to do what I love. That’s something to appreciate—and it’s not going to change anytime soon.
Stereo Games
This song was a fun little bop that my talented friend Niamh and I brainstormed together. As I was jamming out the initial idea, these quirky, energetic lyrics started flowing, and I knew Niamh would be the perfect person to help capture the right vibe. I always enjoy creating a body of work that has varied energy throughout, and this track felt like it could serve as the upbeat, uplifting moment between the slower, more introspective songs like ‘Utopia’ and ‘Formaldehyde’.
Musically, I’ve always loved those catchy indie bops from bands like Shame and the older group New Young Pony Club. Their song “The Rapture” is such an underrated hit, in my opinion. I was also really inspired by the wild percussion in ‘Water in the Well’ by Shame and wanted to channel some of that energy into the production of this track.
The lyrics are a playful take on two real-life people from my friend group who were a couple a few years ago. After they broke up, they wrote loads of hate music about each other – including a full album from one side of the relationship! I actually found it pretty funny, like they were shouting at each other through their songs. The lyrics are mostly from the perspective of the girl in that relationship. The first line refers to how the other person saw her as the “devil” who ruined everything. Meanwhile, I imagined the guy as this stereotypical “soft boy” in a band – someone who takes too many drugs and has an ego the size of a house. I thought the whole dynamic was amusing.
The Kendrick Lamar reference is also a playful nod to the Kendrick/Drake feud, which fit perfectly with the idea of two people battling through their music. When I mention “stereo games”, I’m talking about the emotional manipulation and back-and-forth mind games they were both guilty of in the relationship. It’s also a reference to the way they released these “fuck you” songs, each one like a new round in their ongoing game. Plus, it just sounded really fun to sing!
Formaldehyde
I originally wrote this song in a room in Margate with Jolyon Thomas (who’s worked with Soft Play and U2), and we created this dark, almost electronic version of it. I really loved that version, but when it came to performing it live, I had a vision of turning it into more of a rock track, inspired by bands like Wunderhorse. Caesar Edmunds, who produced the EP, helped bring that epic rock sound to life. We recorded each track with the full band playing together in the room, which really gave it that heavy, live feel – the kind of “wall of sound” I was going for.
This is the song on the EP that I’m most proud of. I feel like it’s one of the most musically mature tracks I’ve ever created, both in terms of arrangement and production. It came out exactly how I envisioned, which is always a great feeling. My backing band truly did it justice, and the heartfelt solo at the end by our incredible guitarist, Dan, really adds something special.
Lyrically, the song is about the struggle to stay focused and feeling lost or stuck. I was reflecting on times in my life when I was trying too hard to please other people, which left me feeling trapped, like I wasn’t in control. In parts of the song, I talk about personal moments – like being stuck in my room during a period of anxiety, staring at old lyrics and song lists I had plastered on the walls, trying to figure out how to make it all work. I remember feeling like a failure, like I hadn’t progressed from where I was years ago, both psychologically and creatively. There’s a moment of wanting to tear it all down and start over – reflecting on all the mistakes I made, the times I was just messing around, getting high, and expecting success to just happen to me.
At its core, this song is a promise to myself to stop overthinking everything and start again with more confidence. There’s a deep longing for change and growth, but also that frustrating feeling of being stuck in the same cycle – feeling like you can’t break free no matter how hard you try. The imagery of being “frozen” or “preserved,” like in formaldehyde, is about that sense of inertia, that feeling of being stuck in one place. But the chorus expresses the desire for transformation, for shedding the past and finally moving forward.
Overall, the song is about self-discovery and inner conflict – trying to break out of old patterns and start growing. It’s a journey towards personal freedom and shaking off the things that have been holding you back. This EP as a whole is about that same journey of figuring yourself out and breaking free emotionally. Each track deals with letting go of toxic influences, confronting personal struggles, and finding your inner strength. It’s an honest look at facing your demons and coming out stronger, blending introspection with a rebellious spirit.
With this new EP, I wanted to focus on who Kynsy really is and what I love most about making music. Right now, that means creating a powerful, full-band sound, while also writing something deeply personal and honest about my own life experiences and struggles. I hope when people listen, they feel inspired to break free from whatever is holding them back and find their own version of freedom.
Kynsy’s EP ‘Utopia’ is out now.
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