In the heart of Berlin’s music scene, a captivating collaboration emerges, melding the warm, tropical beats of Brazil with the raw, emotional tenor of the UK. Producer Shimizu and vocalist Aka Kelzz join creative forces, gifting the world a heartrending ode to lost love through their latest track, “YouGaveMeLove.”
This sonic journey, released by the visionary Lekker Collective, is Shimizu’s second offering—but the first to feature the impassioned strains of Aka Kelzz. Their pairing is nothing short of kismet, a blend of Shimizu’s cultivated soundscapes with Aka Kelzz’s rich, soulful inflexions, creating a track that feels both intensely personal and universally relatable.
The refrain of the song, “You gave me love babe, just like you do it,” serves almost like a mantra, a looping lamentation that captures the cyclical nature of remembering and yearning. Each repetition resonates deeper, dragging listeners into the whirlpool of memory—each time a cathartic experience mirroring the realities of longing for a lost love.
Born in the isolation of 2020, “YouGaveMeLove” reflects the artists’ shared wanderlust and their pursuit of new musical horizons. The track pays homage to the synth-driven sounds of the 80s while evoking the modernity of Lo-fi House pioneers, creating an ambience that’s reflective and contemporary.
As Shimizu recounts, the track laid dormant, its potential untapped, for nearly four years. It was Aka Kelzz’s new vocal interpretation that reignited the creative spark, lifting the track out of obscurity and into the studio spotlight. It’s a reminder that art, like love, can be rekindled—transformed with just the right touch, the right moment, the right voice.
“YouGaveMeLove” is a velvet throwback with digital-age sensibilities; it’s a sonic postcard from the days we yearn to revisit, filtered through the earnest longing of today’s digital souls. Amid the endless churn of new music, this track stands out as a poignant pause, a slow dance with nostalgia, and a siren call beckoning us back to the moments we hold dear.
