Kirra, Run Away

If I had to take an educated guess about what inspired Kirra-Jesse Williamson, lead vocals; Daxton Page, lead guitar; Ryne McNeill, bass; and Zach Stafford, drums-to write the lyrics to the songs of their CD, Run Away, I would say it was from watching a favorite horror movie after a nasty breakup with a girlfriend.  Which movie, I won't attempt to guess.  What really happened in the relationship, I won't pry.

It must have been a horrible breakup and the writer's emotions so high it took him a short amount of time to come up with a 12-song CD.  For what it's worth, if we didn't have strong emotions or conflict in our lives, we wouldn't have "Barracuda," by Heart.  That hit song took the Wilson sisters only about twenty minutes to write.

Kirra's music is solid, rich.  And this statement doesn't necessitate any debate.  It's a combination of Cobain-esque vocals and solid music, an important and valuable aspect of rock music. The music is a healthy balance of classic rock, heavy metal, and thrash.  Best of all, I have almost no problem understanding the lyrics nor the meaning of them.  Those two things in and of themselves are very rare.  Therefore, if I read an article about some misunderstood lyrics, I'll be happy to know their music is not being criticized.

There are two (of many) common ways of reacting to hard rock music:  head-bobbing or -banging. The overall, general feeling I get from the music is the former, and a vote of confidence from yours truly.  Whether it's in time to the drums or the lead guitar, to feel it as closely as possible, this is great music to do that to.  This is the kind of rock I can foresee many young people wanting to imitate, to learn how to play the guitar or drum patterns to. It's as if they're inviting listeners to feel what they felt in putting together the music.  And it makes me wonder if any young kid has taken up playing as instrument as a result of listening to them.

I felt the Kirra pulse in the songs with one-worded titles, like "Chemicals," "Drown," and "Fly,"  As a follower of Love and Death, led by Korn's Brian "Head" Welch, I have heard Between Here and Lost. Three of the best songs have only one word to their titles:  "Chemicals," "Meltdown," and "Abandoning."  Kirra's and Head's mutual song title, though two different contexts, are the ones where I felt the depth, the heartache.

If I had to made one ever-so-slightly critical comment about the lyrics, notwithstanding my being conservative, it's how most of these songs have no foul language, or at least none that I heard.  That's why it surprised me that Williamson held out to the very end of "Lay You Down" to say, "F*** me."  Yes, given the context of the song, it's for all intents and purposes, appropriate.  However, if I had it in me to write a song like this, I'd use the f-bomb a few times throughout the song.

With a random lyrical surprise, and uncompromising palpable solid hard rock,  Kirra has gotten a great start to their music career.  I look forward to more power, heartache,and depth in their songs...and disciples.

https://www.reverbnation.com/KirraMusic