Alec Spicer
The Soulful Pop Artist’s Cheerful, Crowd-Sourced New Music Video Features Some Familiar Faces For A Fun Take On Social Distancing.
Welcome to Song of the Day, where we hip you to all the new local releases you should be caring about. By highlighting one new North Texas-sprung tune every week day, our hope is that you’ll find something new to love about the rich and abundant DFW music scene five days a week.
Karyna Micaela – “Just Love You”
RIYL: Dancing on your own.
What Else You Should Know: Karyna Micaela is no stranger to the Dallas music scene. Along with her husband Zach Balch, Micaela owns Flint Creek Records, founded in 2014.
Now, the self-described soulful troubadour pop artist is stepping out from behind the scenes for a forthcoming album with work that dates back as early as 2012. The first single, “Just Love You,” was released last week and is a warm curtain pull into summer — even warmer is the song’s music video, which we’re lucky enough to exclusively premiere.
Micaela’s delicate vocals laid over bright riffs and airy harmonies make for easy listening on a bike ride, or bobbing around the kitchen. But you don’t just have to rely on our word for it, as the song’s video is full of similar imaginative scenes come to life.
Adapting to these socially distant times, Micaela decided to crowd-source clips for the video from friends from all over, including rising Dallas singer-songwriter Remy Reilly and Eric Webb of Cut Throat Finches.
“During the lockdown, I found myself having impromptu dance parties in my kitchen and living room,” Micaela says. “I thought it would be fun to have a socially distant dance party with my friends… it helped me surrender some of the feelings of anxiety I’d been battling while sheltering-in-place, and just love life.”
The pandemic wasn’t all that Micaela was struggling with, though. The day before she was set to complete the video, George Floyd was killed, sparking outcry across the nation.
“When the subsequent protests started, it obviously felt weird to promote music when there were more important things to talk about,” she says. “The Black Lives Matter movement lit a fire within me and inspired me to start a fundraiser to benefit The Afiya Center, which works for reproductive justice for Black women and girls in Dallas.”
While it might not come as easy as it did a few weeks or even months ago, looking for moments to remind us of the best parts of life are necessary. Micaela’s message of love — both lyrically and visually — with her new single is a recommended dose of solace.
“I think artists should assume the responsibility to speak out against oppression, both within their art and in conversations with others,” she says. “I’ve felt a lot of anger and sadness during the last few weeks, as many people have. This song and video are a reminder of the love and joy I have for my community.”
Cover photo by Kathy Tran.
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