This Summer We’ll “Kiss the Sun”: Asal

Asal Karimzadeh, a Persian-Canadian artist, is a versatile artist able to tie together elements from various genres such as alternative, R&B, dark-pop, and hip-hop. Asal has a powerful, unique sound that makes you want to see what she has up her sleeve next. Asal makes her return with her second EP, Kiss the Sun. After her debut project Missing Something in 2024, Asal took time to master this new era, which is beautifully portrayed in her new project Kiss the Sun, officially released May 29th, 2026. 

Asal opens the EP with "I'll Kiss the Sun", immediately hitting you with a passionate yet soothing feel. The song perfectly conveys what the listener should expect from this project: a soft, serene atmosphere with a powerful voice and meaning.

"Tolerance", the third track in the project, was released as a single in 2025 and now has 16,900,000 streams, making it her third-most popular song thus far. "Tolerance" is one of the catchiest songs on the EP and a fan favorite, thanks to its groovy tempo and clever lyricism, mixed with her soft backing vocals.

"I've built the tolerance of a hippopotamus."

In this 11-song EP, Asal includes "That's How It Goes", a single released back in 2024, even before her debut EP, Missing Something. Although an older release, listeners will understand why this song was chosen for this newest project. "That's How It Goes" is an emotionally powerful song spoken with yearning and admiration.

"Lover, I done sang your name. So much my breath smells like you."

Although a raw and delicate EP, Asal doesn't leave any musical elements behind. Asal draws on her older songs, like those on the Missing Something EP, with a grittier, more explosive production in "9 of Her Friends". 

Asal captioned, "This time I wrote straight from my heart." Compared to her previous project, which has a dark, bass-forward, alternative sound with a hip-hop flow. Kiss the Sun feels more intimate and vulnerable as she really lets her vocals and lyrics take the lead, and the production follows suit. Each song has a smooth flow, feeling effortless as the project continues. In addition, Asal shares her cultural influences in this project by singing in her native language, Farsi, in the tracks "Let You Go" and "I heard (مرسی)".

Following the Kiss the Sun release, Asal will tour Europe this June and North America in September, bringing a healing and lively atmosphere to the world. 

Overall, Kiss the Sun makes a strong statement in Asal's career. She has expanded her range with both her visuals and songwriting. I expect the project to have a strong impact on everyone who listens. Kiss the Sun is a project that invites so much imagination thanks to its tranquil feel. My first listen takes me driving as the sun sets, with the windows down, smelling the fresh air blowing. Asal wants you soaking in the sun this summer, and so do I.