Title: “The Therapy Sessions (Vol. I)”
Artist: Kara Romero
Release Date: June 13, 2020
Recorded: Basement Studios, Manhattan, New York
Genre(s): Hip-Hop, Rap, RnB
Length: 22:19
Label: Just Record
Producer(s): Kara Romero, Orion
“The Therapy Sessions (Vol. I)” is the title of the 2020 E.P from American/Spanish Hip-Hop artist 'Kara Romero', it marks the first extended release from the musician since 2017's E.P titled “Raising Hell” and comes following an extended break from the public eye in which the artist has gone through a lot of personal issues. With the release of the E.P set to follow on the heels of her first single since 2017 titled “Cruel As Shit” which peaked at number four on the singles chart upon it's release at the end of May 2020. That single features on the E.P alongside a collection of songs which tackle similarly dark theme's as the collections title suggests. It is also set to mark the beginning of a productive year as she continues work on her sophomore album, recently confirming that the E.P will inform a lot of the next album and that she classes the E.P very much as a companion piece to the as yet untitled album.
In a recent interview, Kara spoke about the E.P and it's impact on her own life, “I decided to call it “The Therapy Sessions” because I felt like a lot of the writing process was about me trying to figure some shit out in my head. What I've written about is some of the darkest moments of the last four or five years of my life. I've struggled with a lot of issues, depression and addiction and nobody knows about any of this, so rather than discuss it in a magazine article where the story can be edited and moulded to fit the narrative of whatever the trending topic or buzz word is that week. I decided to tell it in six songs, in my own words with the painful and brutal rawness that it requires.
It's a fucked up situation, it's not a redemption story with a happy ending or a positive arc flowing through it. I'm better than I was, but I'm far from recovered. I'm still in therapy, the shit on this E.P is still very real to me. But I wanted to get it out there and channel some of this excess baggage into something that may be beneficial for me for once. Music has always been therapy for me, I may be required to lay on a couch for three hours every week and talk about my feelings, but writing and recording this probably did more for me than any amount of time talking has.”
The E.P features a heavy drum and bass influence, aggressive guitar sounds and melodic and brooding piano instrumentation in order to complement the dark nature and themes of the albums lyrics. It was recorded in late 2019 and early 2020 at Basement Studios in Manhattan, New York by Kara Romero and it was produced by Kara Romero alongside production team 'Orion' who provided the majority of the instrumental support. The E.P will be released on June 13, 2020 through Just Record Records.
Tracklisting;01. “Therapy Session (Part I)” (4:48)
02. “Cruel As Shit” (4:53)
03. “Six Years” (3:07)
04. “Regrets” (4:03)
05. “Wild & Free” (3:52)
06. “Therapy Session (Part II)” (2:56)
Credits & Personnel;CREDITSProduced by Kara Romero, Orion
Engineered by Augustine Francis
Recorded at Basement Studios, Manhattan, New York, USA
Production Manager: Ignacio Santos
Mixing: Augustine Francis
PERSONNELKara Romero - vocals, lyrics, production
Brayton 'Bellows' Carter – piano, keyboards, backing vocals, production
Jadyn 'Boa' Ghalen - guitar, backing vocals, production
Jamal 'Circuit' Ghalen - drum machine, backing vocals, production
Ignacio Santos - bass, percussion, programming, production manager
Augustine Francis – engineering, mixing
Rebecca Lowell - photography, art direction
