Kyllah Zazzara, an emerging indie pop singer songwriter, is set to release her debut single ‘eighteen’ on November 1st. ‘eighteen’ spins the tale of grieving your childhood to make way for the adulthood you don’t yet feel ready for but know will be the making of you. When asked what the song means to her Kyllah said ‘I wrote it for anyone who’s scared of growing up and the consequences of it – scared of time passing by quicker than their minds can comprehend. I wanted to make something that allows others to just stop for a moment and consider who they once were, but also who they’ll become.’
The song opens with a piano seemingly laced with the enchantment of childhood, giving the song an intimate feeling whilst already giving listeners a creative outlet for their similar emotions. The single fully comes to life within the chorus, a cacophony of ethereal harmonies and a steady drumbeat accompany the piano, fully immersing listeners in the whirlwind emotions of the passing of the baton from childhood to adulthood. Kyllah sings the lyrics, ‘what if eighteen means that I’m clean, from the chalk dust and the daydreams?’ This moment conveys the fear surrounding growing up as the world appears terrifying before you’ve truly lived in it. Eighteen seems like this revolutionary age, forced upon young people like a cross to bear where they’re just expected to know how to be mature adults automatically. However, you still long for the fairytales and the long summers that whisper through the walls of your childhood homes, for the nettle stings and scraped knees and the faded freckles all now replaced by new scars. You long for the safety and enchantment of this time. However, time is passing you by whilst you remain still within these memories, soon enough you need to move on too.
Standout lyrics can be found within the second pre-chorus, ‘I never quite caught on to the monkey bars that led to mars, would I have gotten that far?’ This poetic lyricism is still instilled with the magic of childhood whilst also making room for a more painful, deeper meaning of can you make it far enough to grow up? Adulthood just seems so impossible even though it’s staring you in the face, you either have to make the leap reaching for the cosmos or stay as you are whilst everyone else passes you by.
The bridge is when Kyllah’s impressive voice is really showcased. The beautifully controlled vocals are addictive, almost siren-like drawing listeners in and leaving them obsessed forever.
The whole of ‘eighteen’ feels like twirling through the memories of your childhood, like tumbling down the rabbit hole of time to find yourself a content child again. The single is heartbreakingly relatable, only making it all the more beautiful. So go and pre-save ‘eighteen’ ready for it’s release whilst we anticipate what comes next for the talented Kyllah Zazzara.
Bacchanalia Magazine 
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