Live Review: Okay Kaya, you can 'Keep On Pushing'

Somehow a Norwegian voice, that can only be described as celestial grunge, has taken a 1960s gospel track, and turned it into her own, piece of obscure, dream music. Meet OKAY KAYA and her remake of The Impressions' ‘Keep On Pushing’.

The original track was a product of 1964 Chicago, and featured the time-honoured voice of Curtis Mayfield. For the Norwegian born, New York based Okay Kaya (a somewhat internet illusive Kaya Wilkins), hearing the original of ‘Keep On Pushing’ was the first time she had ever heard this voice, and finds his way of expressing emotions “supernatural” and continuously inspiring.

The Okay Kaya version of ‘Keep on Pushing’ has this off kilter percussion, guitar, and vocal combination going on, with occasional bursts of horns. Okay Kaya has this amazing voice, it’s so hard to narrow down and liken to anyone in particular, you just have to hear it to appreciate its expressiveness, everything she feels about Curtis Mayfield’s voice, can also be felt through hers.

The track is one about healing and progress, both on a personal level (in the case of Okay Kaya) but also during the Civil Rights Movement of 1960’s America. You get the feeling of trawling through a fog of hundreds of obstacles, with “keep on pushing” as your motto.

Produced by Adult Jazz, ‘Keep On Pushing’ will be on Okay Kaya’s forthcoming record on Norwegian label Smalltown Supersound. Keep your eyes peeled for details.

Words by Madeline Kilby

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