KHUSHI – Phantoms EP

The sensitive, earnest, male singer-songwriter figure has always been a dime a dozen, and neither the mainstream nor the underground seem immune to it. The good news is that, despite the surplus, record companies and radio waves continue to be more than accommodating to new blood of this ilk. The bad news is that, ultimately, for any staying power and true artistic credibility, one must distinguish themselves from the herd, which can be difficult, if even just due to the sheer volume of similar acts.

London’s Kalim “Khushi” Patel began uploading his demos to the Internet last year and, as interest and affection for his songs picked up steam, he recorded full versions and even released a single, “Magpie”. It’s a nice DIY artist story; throw in the fact that Khushi spends his days caring for the blind, and his back story itself is virtually worth taking pause to gander at his music, were that all he offered. Fortunately, Khushi does differentiate himself from the pack, albeit in subtle ways, as he treats us with his first extended release, Phantoms.

Where Khushi seems to dial in just the right combination is his keen blend of soulful vocals and R&B beats, built on a backbone of traditional folk/torch singer-songwriter, with a sprinkle of dream pop. Not only is it his crafty concoction a highlight, which pays tribute to traditional sounds as well as exudes modernity, but it’s Khushi’s adept timing of pushing these assortment of buttons. The title track breaks beautifully into a sunburst from its torch song start after the chorus, but Khushi knows better than to keep ringing these bells and whistles ad nauseum or to let the song flag back to its sleepy roots. He dials back just enough for the second verse while keeping the rhythm pulsing the song forward.

KHUSHI also has a knack for phrasing; witness his stellar timing on “Phantoms” chorus as he’s vocally his own winding staircase climbing toward the climactic break. Also, of particular note is the warm, but frugal, production. This sounds an oxymoron, but when haziness and gauziness is called for, as the coda on “One For Me” or the chorus on “In The Sun”, it’s there, but on the same token, the verses on these songs have ample room to breathe. You can literally pick up the moment a stick connects with a cymbal or Khushi slides up his fretboard to the next chord. The production highlights both these ends of the spectrum, yet seamlessly blends the edges in toward each other to create a coherent whole.

Positioning yourself as a confessional singer-songwriter is a dangerous game; there’s a frightfully fine line to toe before easily slipping into MOR territory. Khushi plants his initial steps here just right, and I’m eager to hear what’s next, so long as he minds the gap.