'The Water Knows' Review: KICCC takes listeners on a journey of self-exploration with water-themed record
Canadian-Chinese singer KICCC has returned with his first full-length album, 'The Water Knows', an inspiring journey of self-exploration and self-validation through the characteristics of water and its infinite incarnations. The album includes his previously released singles 'Here', 'Control', 'Wine' and 'Iced Tea', along with five unreleased tracks and two instrumentals, all of which beautifully encapsulate the album's concept and conjure up some vivid imagery relating to its thematic underpinnings.
Born Carson Cheng, KICCC (pronounced 'kick') broke out as a solo artist in 2019. While he always had an interest in releasing his own music, his time was largely dedicated to his acting career. But when the opportunity to branch out as a singer presented itself during his time working in Hong Kong and Macau, he knew it was time. His first foray into the world of music came when Eun Ooh Park aka 'NewNew', a veteran entertainer and K-Pop producer, asked KICCC to collaborate and translate her single, 'Birds'. From there on, KICCC began writing his own music and working with producer ENAN and video production company Timelapse to release unique musical experiences. The music video for his first single 'Here' won multiple awards including the Ooh! Macau MV Awards for Best Music Video and Best Plot, among others. He is credited with the lyrics and vocals for the soundtrack to 'LOOKISM', a popular 2019 Chinese drama.
But for all his accolades, KICCC’s music remains his means to communicate with the rest of the world. Every track and every visual is a story he tells, one that allows fans to experience a cinematic peek into every side of him all while maintaining just a touch of mystery. His latest project, 'The Water Knows', sees KICCC take his style and expression even further, hinging the tales he hopes to tell on the ever-flowing and changing nature of water. "I wrote each song thinking about being honest when it comes to my dreams, my lusts, my vulnerabilities, my loneliness, my limits," he shared. "The characteristics of water in its infinite incarnations also became a topic that I worked with while writing. I felt like it was my time to explore and validate parts of myself that I don't usually confront."
'The Water Knows' is a light and upbeat album, complete with ballads, R&B and experimental dance/pop. Inspired by a trip to Seoul, the album paints an honest picture of KICCC and explores his journey through confronting his personal struggles and pushing the boundaries of what he is capable of doing. 'Wine', the title track and the finale in KICCC’s three-part release trilogy ahead of the album, is a dreamy and melodic soft pop song that explores the feeling of self-love and self-care.
Speaking about the track, KICCC shares, "In 'Wine', we see that reality is not immune to interpretation and that rebirth may be the possibility of infinite possibilities. I could relate to this as I learned more about myself, others, and the world around me. Up to this point in my life, I feel like I’ve played so many versions of myself and at given moments held certain truths that were later proven to be more than what they seemed." That, in essence, perfectly sums up 'The Water Knows'. While the journey is based on self-exploration, what you really find when you peel back the layers is a message of growth that can only follow the choice to let go and accept ourselves, flaws and all.
Album opener 'Closer' is a gentle introduction to the journey of healing and self-forgiveness. Following track 'Here' progresses seamlessly from here into a dance-pop jam that's sure to have you grooving, all while KICCC's soft, smooth vocals guide you along this journey. 'Control' and 'Iced Tea' introduce a bit of tropical house into the mix, slower tracks 'Mulled' and 'Wine' allow KICCC to demonstrate his vocals, and 'Typhoon' lets the singer experiment with R&B and rap. Closing track 'Sync' is a standout, blending elements from across the album to give the listener some closure on their journey.
The accompanying music video for 'Wine' featured a storyline that followed the cycle of reincarnation as it started with KICCC, quite literally, rising from the ashes like a phoenix. Released before the album's themes were revealed, the video exhibited various forms of water symbolism that foreshadowed the water theme. And much like the album, the video illustrated how impactful love can be at times and the painful scars that can be left behind when trying to move on from the past. Water, therefore, is both a metaphor for life's unpredictable nature as well as its ability to cleanse and heal. Ultimately, what water and by extension KICCC's 'The Water Knows' achieves is creating the space for one to learn how to be loving and forgiving to themselves.
Stream KICCC's 'The Water Knows' now on Spotify.