K-Bust Releases New Music

Based out of Canada, Chilean native Karla Bustamante’s musical output as K-Bust has earned her a reputation as a rising pop performer. She isn’t prolific, but her third full-length album Rebirth reveals why. This isn’t a performer who works in a slapdash manner. The collection’s ten compositions live on outsized emotions and human drama writ large. K-Bust surrounds each performance with a distinctive sonic identity that sets them apart from the next. No two tracks on Rebirth cover the same ground.

A common musical thread emerges early. K-Bust’s affinity for creating, performing, and claiming as her own cohesive musical statements fuels these ten songs with purpose. Her aims are far from scattershot. The ten songs turn the spotlight onto K-Bust and never waver; she blossoms under its white-hot glare. Her singing performances match the musical intensity present in each of the ten songs.

“Stronger” bears the earliest fruit. This has much more of a personal feel than normal for K-Bust without ever risking obscurity. She broadens the song’s potential appeal by emphasizing the universality of its message rather than building its power on her level of personal confession. It has cathartic properties that make it an easy crowd favorite. “Hungry for Your Love” ratchets up the intensity. The second cut streamlines K-Bust’s musical attack but continues underlining a model sound that defines Rebirth. It’s each song’s accompaniment that often stands out as its make-or-break quality. “Hungry for Your Love” proves that her dazzling pyrotechnic vocal skill is enough to carry every song, but the music determines its reach.

“Heartbeat” will have a long reach if given the chance. It’s K-Bust’s irrepressible brand of synth-pop in full march, maintaining a confident stride, and her voice riding its wave of energy. Stellar production brings each of the ten songs into sharp relief. Many listeners will be struck by how vibrant Rebirth sounds; she deserves kudos for something as seemingly natural as giving an album entitled Rebirth a bright bounce in its step you cannot ignore.

“Dream” has that step and much more. K-Bust unleashes a dazzling cavalcade of changes that keep this song churning in a whirlwind of activity. However, the dizzying trajectory holds your attention. Each disparate section shares similar themes and motifs that carry over throughout the song’s entirety. She shifts gears into a winning full-blown theatrical pop gem entitled “The Love That Got Away”. Experienced music listeners will hear the deceptive ambition underpinning these songs. This track looks to do nothing less than write modern pop classics with breathtaking dramatic scale.

“Like a Storm” brings Rebirth to a fitting conclusion. It has a measured pace and a handful of synth adornments sprinkling color throughout crucial portions. The considered structuring of the album’s climax shows planning and forethought. It’s the mark of a conscious artist pursuing a personal idea for what they want for their art rather than bowing to the marketplace’s demands. K-Bust’s Rebirth gives us something of herself, unchained, and we’re better off for it. It’s one of the year’s most satisfying efforts.  

Nicole Killian