“Fleeting” and Finding Freedom: Sarah Kinsley’s Evolving Sound

Sarah Kinsley returns after her exceptional debut, “Escaper”, with an anthemic and danceable single, “Fleeting”.

Via Sarah Kinsley’s Instagram

Kinsley’s pen has always inspired me since hearing her first record last year, and I’m glad to say this single didn’t disappoint me. In the opening notes, Kinsley sets an intimate mood, writing from a second person point of view. “You wanna feel something new / And get away from the thoughts of the old you”, the opening line is exciting. She sings over a contemporary and danceable instrumentation. In the hook, Kinsley writes “The answer is always, the answer is always fleeting / it’s not forever it’s just a feeling / it’s not forever it’s just a feeling”, the last lyric centers on impermanence in relationships. The ambient and maximal production gives space to convey the weight of these lyrics. Kinsley’s delivery is vocal and dramatic which blends with the soft synths so well. She reflects on changing and how life goes on. She deals with how nothing can last “forever”, yet chooses to hold onto the beauty of the feeling, the emotional core of the track. “But it’s not the weather / It’s not the pressure that makes you wanna drown / You’re lonely can’t you tell? / And you’ll feel it, even in your hometown”, is another standout line to me. She illustrates that no matter what, the shortness of a moment will weigh on one as it slips away. My favorite element of this song is how the production mirrors the theme of the song. The way the notes linger, then fade into reverb is a sonic metaphor for memory emphasizing how it has passed yet it sticks with you. At the end of the song, Kinsley repeats “Things will turn around, they will turn around”, which gives a hopeful ending to the track. She highlights that even with the pressure of a memory, time moves and things will get better no matter the situation. “Fleeting”, feels incredibly authentic and is one of the highlights in Sarah Kinsley’s vivid discography.