Some songs demand your attention, Trouble Heart by Kendal is one of those. It’s a track I could imagine playing in the background on the radio and after the first few seconds it would stop you mid-conversation to listen to it. The latest single from the 22-year-old Irish singer draws you in by its moody, slow-burning folk-Americana feel.
From the first few seconds, the song sets its tone, melancholic yet inviting, delicate yet powerful. Make no mistake, Moody’s voice is the heart of it all: rich, expressive, and effortlessly captivating. There’s an intimacy in the way she delivers each line, almost as if she’s singing directly to you.
Lyrically, Troubled Heart feels deeply personal yet universally relatable. Lines like “I look into your eyes and my god, it hit different” capture the all-consuming rush of first love, the kind that shifts your entire world in an instant. But the song isn’t just about the euphoria; it also explores the weight of distance, doubt, and the lingering echoes of emotion when someone you care about seems lost within themselves and indeed the relationship.
The production, helmed by Darragh O’Connor, is subtle but effective. A slow beat pulses steadily throughout, and every swell of sound feels intentional. It’s a track you could listen to on a late-night drive, staring out the window, lost in thought. The instrumental has its moments of quiet build-up, keeping you hooked, but it never overshadows the core of the song, Moody’s voice and her storytelling.
Troubled Heart also marks the first glimpse into Kay Valerie, Moody’s upcoming debut EP, named after a persona she’s carried with her since childhood. Through Kay Valerie, she explores love, heartbreak, and self-discovery in a way that’s both deeply personal and artfully distanced. This single sets the stage perfectly. It’s full of that quiet electricity that makes an artist one to watch.
With Troubled Heart, Kendal Moody welcomes us into her world. And if this is just the beginning, we’re in for something truly special.
‘Troubled Heart, has had no trouble scoring a 7.5.out of 10
Reviewer – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography