We don’t half love a mystery here at TMR, and Gangs of Kin is one such project that reveals very little. Part of this comes from producer, singer and songwriter Joël Gaerthé’s wish to shed off any sense of ego; it’s not about the individual, but about the shared experience of music. That ethos can certainly be applied to debut track ‘Above The Water’ which “stands for the struggle a young adult lives in this world,” and as Gaerthé continues to say, it highlights “The strength it takes to be true to yourself and not drown in the chaos of expectations from others.” With elements of soul, gospel and hip-hop, this artists takes well known phrases of encouragement and repackages them for today’s listeners. ‘Above The Water’ is a noteworthy introduction to Gangs of Kin, and is soon to be followed up with an intriguing 13-track mixtape entitled The Broke Not Broken Mixtape. Watch this space. - Hannah Thacker