Wild Fire’s “Damaged (But We Still Work)’ is a thoughtful musical reminder of the pervasive and often destructive power social media and celebrity culture exert on our daily lives. It’s a natural subject for two young women to explore; Kayla and Kelli Iutzwig are up to the task. They perform under the name Wild Fire and these teenage talents impress even longtime music professional with their sense of craft, surefooted confidence, and unquestionable passion. They began trying their hand at music at six years old when their parents recognized the skill they demonstrated in this area and placed them in a position to build on those gifts. They have drawn notice from many quarters and their climb into the spotlight has been pronounced since their 2016 debut. Their latest single should only further propel towards greater heights of fame and respect.
MORE ON WILD FIRE: https://www.wildfiresings.com/
It definitely helps they are writing and performing music with a sense of message-driven purpose. “Damaged (But We Still Work)” begins like the equivalent of an aural caress with the mix of well placed synths, melodious yet assertive guitar, and strong percussion driving the song forward. They thankfully do not drop an assortment of instruments into the performance and keep everything focused on a few key elements – guitar, drums, keyboards, and, natch, vocals. The production frames these elements in the best possible way. Each of the individual instruments shine for listeners and the vocals, in particular, reach out for listeners in a way you cannot help but feel satisfied with.
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Those vocals are the key. The lead vocal summons up feelings of melancholy and uncertainty without ever straining for effect and their obvious affinity for the subject make for a satisfying listening experience unlike many you encounter in today’s musical world. The harmony vocals are a bit marred by over-production, but you can nonetheless appreciate the artistry that they put into the vocal arrangement and it possesses the same melodic virtues defining other aspects of the performance.
It helps, of course, that they have solid lyrical material to work with. Their efforts to portray the song’s subject come off quite nicely without any unnecessary overwriting and you will be hard pressed to find any clichés dragging down this work. The song doesn’t drag on too long, either, another positive point, but you do get the feeling that they are capable of even longer tracks that never threaten to bore the listener or lapse into needless blather.
It is easy to expect that Wild Fire will continue ascending the ladder of musical success and notoriety. They are fully in command of their destiny from here forward and with first class collaborators helping propel their career forward, it is difficult to imagine they will not stand as a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. “Damaged (But We Still Work)” may be a track from some forthcoming fully length release but, even as a standalone single, it is a marvelous example of what this talented duo can accomplish and a harbinger of future glories to come.
Loretta Kim