South London-based singer/songwriter K RHEN caught our ears with her new EP  Breaking Point. The 5 track project explores themes around love, self-love, doubt, growth, uncertainty and the never-ending search for one’s true purpose on this spinning ball of life.

The first track, “Hypocrite,” is a self-assessment of K RHEN’s past decisions and indecisions within a one-sided relationship. It looks at the thin line between knowing what to do and the inability to follow through due to being blinded by love. The track has a plucky guitar arrangement with soft percussions that soar into a higher plateau as the drums and cinematic strings come into play alongside K RHEN’s rich, lilting vocal runs.  She looks back with a tinge of regret as she sings, “How many times have I told you/Never let your guard down for no one/And how many times have I told you that you could so much better than that/But in the end, I go and mess things up and then I act surprised.” Next up is the solemn “Come With a Warning,” which talks about power dynamics, mixed signals and miscommunication within a growing relationship, which ultimately led to dissolution. The track has the quintessential pop aesthetic with stadium-like drums, cinematic strings and pads layered with a solemn piano arrangement.

“Shadow” explores the pain of heartbreak and possibly deceit from someone who claims they love you. K RHEN pours her heart on wax with reflective lines like “You say that I’m the only one/But I feel like we’re not alone/ You stood in front of me but I still see her shadow” as she wonders if her man’s heart is still stuck on their ex. This is not necessarily paranoia but rather a case of what-if with K RHEN hoping to be wrong. This is followed by the moody “Now or Never,” comprising dark cinematic synths that soar into a crescendo on the pounding hook. Here, she asks the most pertinent question that couples often tread lightly on.

The final track “Not Alone” is K RHEN’s story of pain, growth and, ultimately, her comforting anthem. Bolstered by surreal, atmospheric synths and pads, she takes audiences through the ups and downs of her life. From her mental health, self-doubt and trepidations, lines like “I don’t know what the rest of my life could be/All of this pressure to know what’s up/I know I wanna be somebody I’m proud of” dive into the uncertainty but she finds the much-needed solace at the end of the dark tunnel.

Overall Breaking Point is a cohesive body of work that is anchored on resilience, emotional pain and trauma that can change one’s life for the worse. However, in K RHEN’s case, she found strength and hope within the doldrums.