Victoria, BC-based Kele Fleming is a profoundly gifted singer-songwriter with a mesmerizing voice. Fleming gracefully weaves the vulnerability of traditional folk with the raw power of rock and roll, reminiscent of the works of powerhouses like Neko Case, Lucina Williams, and Kate Bush. Yet, her sound is entirely her own. As a songwriter, Fleming is notably sincere, heartfelt, and bold, exposing the inner workings of her soul through her music.
Kele continues her series of collaborations with electronic artists, as she is once again remixed by talented Atlas to Earth, this time on her song “Reprieve,” originally found on her 2020 album The Song I Will Write for My Whole Life.
“For this remix, I wanted to capture the emotion of the original yet bring it into a new light,” said Brent Janzen aka Atlas to Earth. “The lyrics are poetic and deep, while the concept of a reprieve offers a sense of total relief. To capture this, I kept the remix on the intense side, while the grander parts instill a feeling of dancing and freedom within a darker context.”
Atlas to Earth’s remix is a tremendous departure from the indie folk of the original. The pulsating synth surrounds Fleming’s voice, creating a hypnotic, techno-influenced track. When Fleming sings, “In the dark, dark night / Look real hard / And you’ll find a light,” it hits you so much harder, becoming a track on the level of electronic groups like Röyksopp and Justice.
You may recognize Kele Fleming as a member of Hazel Motes, whose music emulated a ferocious haunting quality and helped shape Vancouver’s early 90s indie scene. Her solo work is inspired by navigating life as a queer woman, casting off the shackles of our modern world, and, as a self-proclaimed environmentalist, giving a voice to the pain mother nature feels from what humanity has done to her.
Her voice is a thunderstorm of emotion, and with electronic beats backing it, the track is overflowing with complexity. Kele’s work explores deeply personal themes, and Altas To Earth executes it flawlessly, making “Reprieve” a flawless club banger.
