Natasha Kozaily’s new pop project Gunakadeit (pronounced Goo-na’-ka-date) is named after a Tlingit legend about a sea monster that brought prosperity and good luck to a village in crisis.
Natasha was raised by a Lebanese father and a native Islander mother on the small island of Grand Cayman in the Caribbean. She studied ethnomusicology in Wales and now lives in San Diego, California.
Her choice in moniker and worldly, nomadic upbringing are all insights into Natasha’s exotic, ethereal influences and sound, evident in Gunakadeit’s new single, “South”.
“South” begins with minimal instrumentation, primarily a tickling electric guitar sound playing behind Natasha’s piercing vocals building up to a catchy drum beat.
Her swooning, melodic voice sings of a lover that has grown cold towards her. She no longer knows what to say or do where she lives now – her dreams are escaping her, and the town is dead. There is nagging voice telling her to escape, and, of course, for Natasha that means moving away to a happier, warmer place.
As the song progresses into the chorus, it becomes more electronic-pop influenced, with layered drumbeats and vocals, up-tempo cymbals and a deep bass pulse.
Gunakadeit’s first single,“South” bodes well for Natasha Kozaily, as her voice leaves a sense of mystery and intrigue, enticing us to listen to her tell more of her stories.
Sounds like: St. Vincent, Tune-Yards.
3/5
