With the poignant pluck of a forlorn guitar string, IN Kelly (aka Kjetil Rønningen) introspectively strides into the indie pop-rock arena with “Thought I Was Your Sidekick.” Rønningen’s musical tapestry weaves intense emotional heft with shimmering sonic textures—a heartrending reflection on artistic overshadow in an industry too cramped for unsung heroes.
The track is more than just an audible confessional booth; it’s the first note in a symphony of growing pains and eye-opening realizations. Riding high off his tenure with Bravo Papa, IN Kelly embarks on a solo odyssey that dares to question creative alliances and shines under scrutiny like raw silver hit by merciless spotlights.
“Thought I Was Your Sidekick” marries lush melodies to lyrics sharp as shattered glass—we hear a creator stifle beneath another glory-seeker’s shadow until frustration crescendos into rebellion. From verses laced with vulnerability followed by an anthemic chorus that champions self-worth—every chord change feels like stepping from monochrome into Technicolor independence.
We sense ghosts of The Shins’ whimsy waltzing with Coldplay’s early brooding charm, all while confronting twenty-first-century disillusionment akin to St. Vincent’s biting critique. It resonates like an echo down Fleetwood Mac’s halls of complex partnership dynamics; yet this single remains uniquely definitive of Rønningen himself — personal growth fueled by synthesized beats behind folk-strummed authenticity.
Anticipation swirls for what promises to be an understated powerhouse album; if this sample suggests anything, it is set to mull over themes both eternal and contemporary within nine subsequent tracks crafted amid seven prolific months after Bravo Papa echoed its last roar.
Touching upon universal plight without spilling over into cliché proves “Thought I Was Your Sidekick” not just revelatory but refreshingly human—an intimate whisper in our ear reminding us that navigating between inspiration and imitation can still yield triumphant results when one finds their true voice amidst cacophonous demands for ratified artistry.
