Kalpee releases acoustic version of 2020 EP

January 26, 2021
Kalpee
Kalpee

Trinidadian musician Kalpee is starting the new year with an acoustic version of his Feel Good Playlist Vol.1 EP.

Inspired by his Caribbean roots, the project fuses reggae and calypso into a contemporary R&B and pop sound.

"Five years ago, I started learning how to play guitar acoustically from watching YouTube videos, which really impacted my songwriting so much, opening up new avenues for melodies with each chord progression that I taught myself," he said. Kalpee was later introduced to electric guitar and again "my sound, songwriting and production skills grew once more".

"I've always been a huge fan on the simplicity of just guitar and vocals, which is how most of my songwriting begins, and so being able to deliver a stripped back version of the EP was all about grassroots for me and being able to showcase the tracks in their most honest form," he said.

Kalpee has also released the video for his single Climb. Directed by long-time friend and collaborator Azriel Bahadoor, the video was shot in Trinidad and Tobago.

Featuring fellow Trinis Freetown Collective, Climb was the first song Kalpee wrote after his near-death car accident in 2019. Writing and producing the track helped him find relief from the trauma. The video shows snippets of footage from the crash.

Stories involving the lives of other Freetown members are also intertwined in the video.

On discovering the footage of the accident, Kalpee explains: "I was in two minds whether to release it or not, but as it was so important to all of us that the visual to Climb be as honest as the lyrics that we wrote. Then I believe it was captured to be seen. I hope the video brings those that watch it strength and hope to overcome their darkest days."

The original Feel Good Playlist Vol.1 was released in October and includes the single Gimme De Ting featuring platinum recording superstar Stefflon Don.

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