Kavale

Toronto artist blog.

Kavale has been on my radar for some time, I didn’t really feel in any rush to cover him. I have covered some of his single releases over the past year but diving into his discography really showcased him in another light for me. His versatility is one of his biggest strengths. I love seeing an artist use his voice to the fullest. Mixing different sounds and styles during one’s career is a big aspect of a great and long-lasting career. Kavales sound and style, as well as general aesthetic just give off that pure energy. He has this alternative hip hop, R&B style that really can’t be put in a box, it’s just so versatile and opens the floodgates to something special. His short 3-year career has given us some gems in the process. Taking a look into Kavales discography, you can immediately realize that Kavale has been making music his whole life. Either recording for many years or at least being involved in some way. He is just a natural, I say that because his first release reveals a lot about him. The fact that his first official release is a full-length EP with 6 tracks is a sign to wants to come. The fantastic production, sound quality, and confidence behind the mic are all very important things to point out. These take years for most to develop and decades for some. Even the structure of this project is well thought out. Genuinely a great piece of work that easily stands with some of the biggest names releasing music today. One thing that actually gave away the feeling of music being second nature is the cover art image he used for the project. It’s a picture of him next to a piano with I’m assuming his sister playing it. The importance of music at an early age is undeniable in making someone as good as Kavale. But I don’t want to take away from his efforts and what he has been able to accomplish in the short 3 years we have had the pleasure of seeing his journey. His journey begins in 2020, he would deliver 3 singles titled “Somber,” “Down,” and “Heaven on Earth (Victory).” These three singles offer completely different listening experiences to each other. “Somber” has this R&B melodic sound that brings a more cloudy atmosphere. This is my favorite of the 3 personally.

I love the more melodic side of Kavale. He’s got a very good voice and one that has a lot of range. The instrumental choice here is also great. I love the use of acoustic live drums and a piano as the main melody tool behind the entire track. “Down” gives us a more lyrical conscious rap side of Kavale. There is still that melodic aspect to the track, but Kavale’s signature sound is a key element in almost every track regardless of the slight tonal and atmospheric changes. This track also features WESTSIDE BOOGIE who delivered a great and memorable performance on an already fantastic track. WESTSIDE’s flow is one of the more stand-out features of his verse. He just has a way around a beat that feels effortless. Kavale would also release a deluxe to his project “Time Stamp” adding a total of 5 more tracks. Some of the standouts on the deluxe were “Hold Up,” “Life,” and “For What It’s Worth.” 2021 would be the year of releases that caught my initial attention. His sound was developing and expanding. One of my all-time favorite tracks of his right now is “Rendezvous,” which was released in March of 2021. I love the energy and atmosphere of the track, It has this adventurous/nightlife aesthetic. The production behind this track is fantastic. There is really no other way I can say it. It really got that special treatment, and the final product is rich in flavor. Kavales’ flows and rhythms here are some of his best. He just floats on the beat like it’s nothing. His cadence changes throughout the track also gave it a lot more life. It’s almost like there were 2 different artists on this one track in a very uncanny way. “See You Soon” was the 3 pack project that caught my eye originally. These tracks take a more melodic approach, I would say this is where his R&B side begins to shine. The music hits even harder now than it did then, especially after getting a larger scope on his sound and style. “Full Circle” would be his 9-track project that was released in 2022 as a compilation of his music so far. It’s nice to see it repackages in a better box in a more streamed-lined way for new fans to hear them.

I appreciate artists who take their craft seriously, making timeless music is hard but worth the trouble. That’s one thing that is hard to come across and I think Kavale is exactly that, quality over quantity. Now present day, his 2023 releases are limited but worth the wait. “2 SIDES” alone is a perfect example of a track worth the wait. This can also be said for the other 2 singles. Each track delivers something unique of its own but all can easily fit in a single project. “2 SIDES” introduces a newer Kavale. His cadence changed here, delivering a slightly higher-pitched voice across the tracks. Reminds me of Baby Keem & J-cole. It’s probably one of my favorite cadences yet. There is just something so perfect about it. I love the beat selection, the instrumentals built a strong atmosphere around the track. Kavale uses his voice to his advantage here, bringing that melodic touch to the track. Something that Cole and Keem wouldn’t be able to execute as well as Kavale. Kavale’s range is something I can’t stop raving about, you can really get a sense of it in his next single “WOULD YOU LIKE A HEART?.” This track is one of his more impressive pieces of work. Just the sheer amount of range in this one song alone is incredible. The production beat selection, and mixing are all done with maximum precision. He hits some great notes and really made me audibly react when I first heard it. Words can’t describe how I truly feel about this one so I would just recommend you to give it a listen. Make sure to listen to a few of his songs before to really see the progression and improvement. This goes for any of his music, giving yourself something to compare it to just gives you a much deeper level of understanding and appreciation for one’s music. Kavale is a fresh sight to see, he has so much potential and he has already begun to showcase it in his recent music. I’m really excited about the future, and I hope to see him put together his first full-length debut album sometime soon. Regardless though, I’m here for the journey moving forward.

Written by Maxim Bayarsky