Australian rising star KYE today releases her new single, the stirring ballad ‘29’.

Written by KYE with Oscar Dawson of Holy Holy, ‘29’ sees KYE continue to explore her identity openly and honestly as she did with her previous single ‘Gospel’.

Starting with faint voices and a single guitar, the song gradually builds into a pop-rock soundscape with divine melodies and KYE’s gorgeous vocal adding a touch of melancholy to the whole affair. She sings of the fear of getting older and not having accomplished goals some of her peers may have done and the feelings of inadequacy that surround that. The reflective nature of the lyrics though sees her coming to a place of peace and acceptance that there is still a whole life to live. ‘Tears on your birthday cake / Another whole year and you’re still so afraid / You’ve still got time…you’re only 29,’ KYE sings.

“For me, this is probably the one I bawl my eyes out to. Especially as an artist, I’ve always had this fear of getting older,” KYE says. “My life looks different to my friends’, being a creative. Watching my friends having kids and getting married…I’ve always looked at myself and have gone, ‘I’ve fallen behind.’ The song captures the feeling and message of, ‘Keep going, you’re allowed to change. I’m allowed to change.’ Go with the motions of life, because we have infinite amounts of time. It’s a way to champion myself and other people to keep propelling forward and not get stuck on an idea of having messed everything up.”

Both ‘29’ and ‘Gospel’ mark a new sound and direction for KYE after the release of her R&B-Garage inspired, ARIA Award nominated second EP Ribena in 2023. Off the back of her new music, she has recently announced she will be performing an intimate show at The Evelyn Hotel in Melbourne on 30 May. Tickets on sale now.

KYE is a magical artist who is consistently living up to, and exceeding, the promise she showed with her earliest releases. There is a confidence and beauty in her latest chapter that makes it as moving and touching as Ribena was whipsmart and dancefloor ready. With more music to come, 2025 is shaping up to be KYE’s year.

‘29’ is out now via Sony Music Australia. You can download and stream now.
Follow KYE on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Read our four page feature on KYE in issue 14 of Women In Pop magazine