Album Review: Kacey Johansing Sees Her Strength In “The Hiding”

Sometimes, people leave our lives so that we can finally begin to live. Most of us can say that we define ourselves according to our friends and family, but when they move on or lose that instant accessibility into our lives, we are left to handle ourselves. Kacey Johansing’s The Hiding is about learning to see yourself for the first time without the imagining and pressure of how others perceive you.

In 9 Songs, Johansing shows the twinkling fear and hope that strikes a heart learning to beat on its own. When Johansing’s band and old collaborators left her life, she began seeking within her own, individual creativity as an artist. This explains the lyrical pensiveness of songs “Take One, Leave One” and “Old Feeling, Old Foe” as the most brazened tracks to Johansing’s desire to move on from the pain and bitterness of losing people that were once so dear. It is mind-boggling to see how the ones closest to you can become eventual strangers, and, with a pure pop sound that reflects the classic whimsicalness of Fleetwood Mac, she builds a bridge of emotional understanding/ strength. “Power Of Love”, “Hold Steady”, and “Evergreen” radiate the nurturing nature of Johansing, whom actually works as a caretaker. Hence, lyrically she knows the words that will bring comfort and perseverance to listeners. Match that with keys and synths that seem to be in their own instrumental. slow dance, and add Johansing’s small, lovely voice and you have The Hiding.