Ken Paolo & The Space Cadets have shared a genre-hopping new single, Natural Ways.
The track marks the Perth band’s latest preview for their forthcoming EP, and was produced by Tone City Recording’s Sam Ford. Natural Ways sees Ken Paolo steer the vocals, offering R&B melodies atop The Space Cadets’ funk soul instrumentation. The track’s groovy sonics are embellished by a tooting horn section, which comes courtesy of saxophonist Oliver Taylor and trombonist Steven Bickley, among others.
Lyrically, Natural Ways traces the downfall of a tenuous relationship, as Paolo muses on the nuanced experience of love and loss. With introspective lyricism that bellies the track’s anthemic sound, The Space Cadets frontman sings of rejecting negativity and wishing peace for a partner: “You’re really out here manifesting negativity” Paolo sings on the final verse, “It’s crashing my energy, I really do hope you find peace someday.”
Further elaborating on the song’s meaning, the band said in a press statement that “Natural Ways is a high-energy affirmation about moving on from toxic situations. It is our most ambitious track with an addiction of a horn section.”
Natural Ways marks the latest single to be lifted from Ken Paolo & The Space Cadets’ upcoming debut EP. It joins previous singles $4 Pizza, Heads at a Hundred and Dance With A Broken Heart, the last of which was also produced by Tone City Recordings. The EP will mark Ken Paolo & The Space Cadets first major release, having first formed as a band in 2021.
In the year since, the band has provided support for the likes of Siobhan Cotchin, Nectar and King Blue, and has performed at events from the Winter Music Party to Hyperfest — the last of which saw them play alongside Spacey Jane. Stream Ken Paolo & The Space Cadets’ new single Natural Ways via Spotify below.
