Pop colors, uplifting songs and plenty of feel good inspirations – this is what Canadian singer/songwriter Kinga Angelys stands for in a nutshell. The Hamburg based artist has just released her single “Good things are coming” in which she once again encourages listeners to invite happiness and self-belief in.
We´ve listened to the track on repeat and are convinced you will too!
Kinga is mastering the art of combining captivating melodic hooks with empowering lyrics that evoke hope and courage and make you feel like you´re on top of the world.
We got to chat with the cheerful artist who has built up an ever growing fan community with her consistent messages and velvety clear vocals. Kinga is one to watch and we are honored to have her on!
Kinga, congrats on the release of “Good things are coming”. Tell us a bit about the song, what inspired it and how it came to be?
Good Things Are Coming
During a difficult period of my life I was really touched by people who stood by me unconditionally. I’m generally a pretty positive person, but I go through dark times and periods of doubt as much as anyone. So what I experienced in those low points really taught me how to be present to and patient with pain, and be sensitive to the experiences of others supporting where possible. I couldn’t have overcome certain obstacles without social support, even if I wanted to be alone or isolate myself. SO it was time to channel that into a song which I wanted to be packed with positive vibes, and a joyful and energetic pop sound . The song is about being there for others and reminders of better days to come. The verses are a bit more tender and vivid with intimate invitations of how to be a light in the darkness for someone. The chorus is a joyful reminder that better days are close and not to give up just yet- these dance boldly throughout the song… I think it´s important to be in this together and what better way to share that than with music. It´s important to celebrate everything we overcome even though life is still not perfect, there is so much to be grateful for and smile about. But we all need a little encouragement so it was time for a song to lift souls and spirits in need of inspiration.
That´s great Kinga! Your music overall is all about spreading positivity and encouragement. What are the things that motivate you when you are having a bad day?
The more you overcome in life the more you can look at a challenge and think “You know what this is a bad moment, but I’m not going to turn this into a bad day” or it’s a bad day, but I don’t have a bad life. It’s not always easy to do. I also have a list of activities that hang visibly which I can turn to when I notice I start to spiral with negative emotions. I also have something called a “feel good” folder which is a collection of uplifting quotes, photos of my favorite memories, or things I’ve accomplished as a reminder to keep going, creating and building. Other things that help are time in nature, exercise, positive self talk, letting go of the small stuff, connecting with others who care and sometimes sending my own self encouraging voice messages to my phone:)
I love that! Let´s dive a little deeper. Mental health is a huge topic in the music industry. Most artists are sensitive creatures and this business can really take its toll. The narrative of the starving artist is persistent and discouraging at times. Are there any learnings you would like to share with emerging artists who might be hesistant to give things a try?
Well I think that dealing with rejection and criticism or just no interest in your music at all is bound to happen, and if you care deeply about what you do it can be disheartening. This is why it really helped me to discover my “why” and create from that place. You can make music just for yourself. But if you choose to create and share it for others to listen then what is your purpose or message aside from your genre? Does the music relax, energize, inspire- what is the essence of what you share? As an emergent artist if you share your music you are constantly told to build an audience. You can do what everyone else does and follow trends, you can chase virality but I am choosing to build a community. I never look at Age, gender or whatever demographics Spotify shows me – it doesn´t mean much to me. The more important discovery was that my listeners are also people who are somehow connected to my “why.”
When I discovered that I wanted to continue channeling my own lessons of hope and happiness into my work. This was a huge buffer to my mental and emotional wellbeing as an artist. Because then it’s not just about the voice, looks, your talent, the metrics or all the things that can potentially make you feel insecure. You are solidified in your own truth and less swayed by how others respond to it. You know the song reaches the person who needs to hear it and that is the true gift. You can’t force others to be interested in your art when you put it up on the wall. But you can dig deep, be as authentic and honest with yourself as possible and put your heart and soul into everything you create. It may be somebody’s masterpiece. If I do all this I can promote my song with the confidence that it will resonate with the right audience..
That is beautiful and spot on! Your music definitely always reflects your authenticity and purpose imo. Let us talk about songwriting. You are a prolific writer and have a way of coming up with hooky melodies and themes. Explain your process. How do you usually get started? Is it lyrics or melody first and how long does it usually take you to finish a song?
Ahh thank you, that’s such an amazing compliment. Well generally I come up with the melodies first and grab my voice recorder throughout the day, recording any quirky little hooks or ideas that come up. I could literally be in the shower, reading my book or be inspired by a book cover. This is really helpful because it catches certain words or phrases that come out in the moment when I’m really feeling the emotion that drives the melody. Then I start to build on it and choose a strong analogy to stick to and refine the ideas because I can get really wordy and expressive so I have to keep filtering the song. It can get quite tricky what to keep in or take out and that can take me some time and opinions of others I value and respect. So actually writing one does not take that long to be honest. I throw myself into it until I’ve got a song and I’ve got tons of them :). But choosing which one I should actually record and release is a process. I recorded Good Things Are Coming over a year ago.
Wow! I love that you ask for trusted feedback during the process! Who are some of your musical influences?
As a child I grew up listening to a lot of ABBA, Beatles, Boney M and Elvis in our home which was always a lot of fun to sing along as a family. I think that shaped the entertainer in me that wanted to cheer others up with music.
Jewel, Alanis Morisette, The Cranberries, Feist, KT Tunstall, Florence and the Machine, Sara Bareilles, Katie Melua, Ingrid Michaelson, Dolly Parton, Amy Winehouse are some of my absolute favorites whose sound or story have somehow shaped me as an artist over the years.
When did you write your first song and what was it about?
My whole entire childhood I was making up songs about whatever I could whenever I could- bath time, dinner time, going to school, getting dressed, you name it:) Then when I was a teeneger I couldn´t stop writing songs about romances, breakups, how unfair life was etc (could’ve been an album). The first song I wrote and released though was in 2019 – an acoustic pop song called Parachute and a lot of people wondered if it was about God or a higher power. I never thought of it that way at the time but if you’re curious give Parachute by Kinga Angelys a listen:)
What are three ingredients for a good song in your opinion?
Relatability, strong hooks that get stuck in your head and intriguing analogies.
Agreed:) In “Good things are coming” you are addressing the listener directly. Did you write the song to someone specifically or is it more like a message to your fans?
On some level the song gives me a chance to bring to life the person I needed when I was deeply hurting. Because I was lucky enough to have people care and take action when I was having a hard time, that is the kind of person I want to be for others. On another level because I know also as a health scientist the impact of social support and that everyone will go through a traumatic event at some point in their lives. So I guess it’s multi layered- I am inviting my audience to consider being that light for others, or to hold on tight if they are the ones who need the hope and encouragement.
I love the lyric line “Won´t leave you behind, and I won’t say goodbye, I´ll be waiting even if it takes some time.” What this implies is lasting support. Do you have someone in your environment who has been such a support to you over the years?
Thank you so much and yes I think we all need to believe that we can be loved unconditionally, not just when we are at our best. My husband has been my biggest supporter and best friend for 17 years now. He definitely is someone who can truly see me and support me at my worst and celebrate me at my best without expecting anything in return and has always encouraged me to follow my dreams and passion. Then I also had a few people I will never forget who stood by my side when I was really struggling through some challenges. Their actions came from a genuine place of compassion and concern and I’m so grateful.
I would love to discuss your brand a bit. You have really leveled up your visual imagery over the years. Love your fun pop colors and the girly cover art photos of your last releases. Did you develop your brand ID yourself? How important is visual communications for musicians in your opinion?
Ahh, thank you. I am always a bit caught off guard when someone points out branding because sometimes it all feels very random. I call a makeup artist the day before, throw a bunch of colorful things together in a suitcase, and go off to a photoshoot and we find an environment or elements that randomly matches the essence of the song. It’s so wild because it almost creates its own vibe and such a surprise sometimes that it all comes together. But overall I think attention to audiovisual components are a solid foundation for strong storytelling. Its a way of showing what you are all about without having to tell people what you are all about. And I do love working with photographers for example who have a strong eye for details and bring out the most of your personality, I’ve been lucky to have that.
Last not least: What are your plans for 2023. Will we hear more new music from you? Are you playing any gigs sometime soon and how can people best connect with you?
I am so excited about some short term and long term projects in the pipeline. I’ve just recorded a really beautiful, folky duet with Joe Wilkinson, a very talented Acoustic Singer and Songwriter. We are finishing up the details before the mixing and mastering process. So this will definitely be a side of me that is less pop, is still uplifting but brings out more natural elements musically and reflects some of my earlier influences. We will be sharing more about that release date on our socials soon. I am also working on an album that is more acoustic Singer/Songwriter – Ukulele based and it’s been a beautiful adventure so far. I’m also working on an Indie family music album with my children. It’s been so fun! So after 8 pop singles it’s going to be a different style for me to share, but it is a season of growth I am ready to explore and very excited about. As for gigs, I am booked up for a lot of private events and parties from May throughout the summer so I’m spacing out my energy…But I will be posting in my stories whenever I play locally so you can stay tuned on Instagram.
That all sounds amazing and very promising! I wish you all the success in the world! Thank you so much for this chat Kinga! Keep inspiring!
Find Kinga online:
Web: http://www.kingaangelys.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingaangelys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingaangelys
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kingathesinga
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDdDDkqetgfFr0nCoN4gGgga Angelys
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2AibhtYJR2Ro8sivKsXlbM?si=c3_HQVZdRAiZS0mCgpeuHw