Keyawna Nikole feat. Kellin Quinn – “Secrets” [Song Review]

“Secrets,” the latest single/music video from Keyawna Nikole, features Kellin Quinn, the frontman of Sleeping With Sirens.

For Quinn, collaborating with other artists is nothing new. He’s built a reputation for picking emerging artists to work with, irrespective of genre: he’s worked with rappers-turned-rockers like Machine Gun Kelly, K-pop rebels like Amber Liu, and bands on the edge of pop-punk like Pierce The Veil.

Talking about the song, Keyawna Nikole reveals, “‘Secrets’ was lyrically inspired by what it’s like to deal with mental illness; for me, specifically, depression, and what it’s like to cope.”

“Secrets” opens on low-slung guitars and softly swirling tones and then mousses up to heavy waves of platinum guitars. For some reason, both the rhythmic pulse and texture of the harmonics summon up suggestions of Linkin Park, while Nikole’s voice, at once dreamy and potently alluring, imbues the lyrics with pressing urgency.

With its contagious rising and falling structure, Keyawna Nikole portrays the chilling feeling brought on by confronting inner emotional demons.

Keyawna Nikole, photo by Dela Smooth

Run Time: 3:04
Release Date: September 22, 2023
Record Label: Independent