Sure, Top 40 pop music is a bit, erm, lackluster at the moment. But across the pond, the dance scene continues to flourish.
From Disclosure to Clean Bandit to Gorgon City to Route 94 to Sigma to Katy B, there’s been absolutely no shortage of incredibly crafted, early ’90’s House and UK garage greatness in 2014.
Now, there’s a new voice to add to the growing community: Karen Harding, a (gorgeous) 22-year-old Newcastle songstress.
After catching the attention of the multi-talented UK super-producer/pop star MNEK with her cover of “Latch,” the talented vocalist has just premiered her debut single: “Say Something,” a glorious throwback to the House sirens and R&B divas of the ’90’s, full of full-bodied vocals and infectious melodies.
“I want to bring what Whitney Houston brought to ’80s and ’90s R&B to house. I’m all about the vocals and bringing back really cool harmonies and strong ad-libs that people can get excited about. But most of all I want people to enjoy themselves,” Karen explains.
The dance floor throbber fits in snugly somewhere between Kiesza‘s “Hideaway,” Whitney Houston‘s “It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay” and CeCe Peniston‘s “Finally” (which, naturally, she’s covered as well).
“Baby, if you want to see something, say it now/’Cause I ain’t got the time to be waiting ’round,” she declares across the infectious chorus, full of bright House piano and big, buoyant beats. Can this be the new theme song for the MTA’s If You See Something, Say Something policy, please? It would make the train ride much more tolerable.
The killer track won’t be released until mid-October, but this one won’t be getting old any time soon. I’m so ready for more, more, more!
“Say Something” will be released on October 19. (iTunes UK)