Kelly Kirwan
"Feels" is a word that's spent the last couple of years redefining itself in the pop culture lexicon. It’s a vibe, an aura that follows you like a halo—in short, it’s mood. And as the title of Konsequence’s latest single, "Feels Pt. I"—the first from their forthcoming EP, Studio City—it captures the song's simmering, defiant atmosphere.
Konsequence is a duo of brothers from Munich, Germany who now reside in Los Angeles. On "Feels Pt. I" they were joined by Rory Fresco, a Kansas City native whose career took a serendipitous turn when his single "Lowkey" auto-played after Kanye’s upload of "Real Friends" on SoundCloud. Together, Konsequence and Fresco have created a track that’s overflowing with nonchalance. It’s a song that’s aggressively unruffled, pressing forward in a confident stride without losing its level head. Fresco’s voice takes on an automated warble as he stresses certain notes, letting us know that there won’t be any distractions en route to his end game—everything trying to stand in his way is background noise.
The accompanying video follows three women (Tegest Worku, Samira Prudentos, and Aissa Niang) as they navigate the streets and hidden nooks of LA. Interspersed are shots of them staring at the camera, holding a sign that says "Feels," and walking lackadaisically through parking lots or lounging around at parties. The trio is a unit, their bond often emphasized by arms draped over each other's shoulders, and they embody the confidence of Fresco's lyrics with body language alone. "Feels Pt. I," both song and video, are filled to the brim with a charisma you wish you could bottle. Studio City promises to do just that.