kylekelly – “it’s ALWAYS been about you” [Song Review]

kylekelly’s new single, “it’s ALWAYS been about you,” glows with quiet confidence. His voice is steady but vulnerable, and the late guitar solo cuts through with just enough edge. It’s a sleek pop song that slips in softly, grows on you, and stays there.

The song centers on a relationship distorted by ego, where every vulnerable moment is met with criticism. kylekelly captures the emotional damage of being molded into someone smaller and less real.

That emotional openness puts kylekelly among a new wave of pop artists turning personal fallout into sharply built songs. Raised in suburban New Jersey, he trained early on piano, guitar, drums, and bass.

By 17, he was already performing across New York. His live show, which he has called a “twenty-minute party,” helped land slots with Daniel Seavey and a place on Natalie Jane’s European tour.

a melancholic romcom, his 2025 debut long player, introduced a world of romantic fallout, 000s-film nostalgia, and modern alienation. His recent EP, the inevitable sequel, carries the concept forward with even more focus.

kylekelly in 2026, photo by Ashley Crichton

A thumping kick-drum provides the beat, while a piano pushes the melody, along with shimmering synths and skiffing guitars. The harmonic layering gives the tune a big, bright sound and gleaming surfaces of lush alt-pop.

With the deliciously melodic “it’s ALWAYS been about you,” kylekelly is frank and clear-eyed about when it’s time to leave a relationship.

Run Time: 3:08
Release Date: April 17, 2026
Record Label: Independent