Review: "This Kinda Hurt" - David Arlo

David Alro’s song “This Kinda Hurt” is about the isolation that comes from keeping your emotions locked inside. Its lyrics bring to light the way keeping your feelings to yourself can be debilitating. The heart-wrenching reality is that when you’re a kid told to “get a grip” and never show emotion, there’s a lasting trauma that makes life heavy. From the very first verse, the words profess loneliness, saying “tried to call my momma yesterday and forgot, ain’t no way she picking up”. Delving into unhealthy coping mechanisms, the narrator reveals an intense image to demonstrate his struggle: “I dance with the devil on the edge.” The chorus, ending with the words “I’m broken”, is a confessional message of pain. It bares the weight of emotions that have been held onto for too long. The second verse exhibits some of the brutal messages that doomed the narrator’s emotional vulnerability. A glimmer of hope comes ends the bridge with a high note in both lyrics and melody, with the words “I know that I’ll make it through”. This language of perseverance delivers comfort and hope to all the listeners who can relate to this pain.

“This Kinda Hurt” has soulful piano with a simple chord progression that solemnity of the song and allows the vocals to shine. David’s voice is deep, profound, and passionate. His melismatic expression emphasizes the emotion of the song, cascading through words. The verses begin with a rapid and rhythmic melody, before slowing down and giving way to a beautiful display of vocals. There’s a gentle sound of vocalizing before the lyrics sound as the song begins, and as it ends during the final chorus. It is a powerful exhibit of the singer’s voice in a song about the struggles of not being able to communicate.

David Arlo is an artist from London with Nigerian heritage, who began his music journey when he was 18. He released his first single “Settle” in 2018, and continues to write powerful songs. His songs dive into important themes of mental health and personal experiences, creating truly influential messages through music. Mick Jenkins, an American Rapper, featured on his song "Changing" in 2019. He collaborates with other artists on music, including Boots and Marcus Semaj. David's bold and resonant voice and strong ideas shine through in all his songs. You can follow his music on Instagram, Spotify, TikTok, Facebook, and Youtube.

Written By Hanna Kowal

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