Deepest Roots[1] is the third EP by Kerli. After realizing her third full length studio album would be released later than expected, on October 4, 2016 Kerli announced her plans to release a special signed CD featuring the three 2016 singles with remixes and bonus content previously available through her independent artist PledgeMusic project. Everyone who preordered the album was eligible to receive the CD.[2] Fans who preordered the album and obtained this EP in physical format could find the EP title in the metadata, Deepest Roots, which does not appear in the frontal cover.
The story,[]
After spending the past 15 years traveling the world and exploring many corners of the planet Earth, I have found a deep appreciation for the magical country I was born in - Estonia. Last spring, I decided to start a new chapter in my way of living and returned to the woods, animals and ancient belieft of the land that raised me. The music and the visuals you are witnessing were reated during 9 month of solidute, by living an extremely simple existence in the forest, tapping into the power of my bloodline and channeling the elven heartbeat of Estonia. Thank you for listening. Moonchild K
Release and promotion[]
Kerli announced on YouTube her return as an independent artist, with a new single and teaming up with PledgeMusic.[3] She opened a store where her fans could buy products like autographed lyrics, rings, stickers and t-shirts in order to support her. The store was open in the period from Feral Hearts to Blossom, released on February 19 and April 28 respectively. The date given for the album was September 2016. Meanwhile, the third single, Diamond Hard was released on July 27. In September, the project on PledgeMusic was closed and no information was given about the album. On October 4, with a video on YouTube, Kerli announced that it would have been pushed to early 2017, saying that most of the material was written and she was producing a lot of songs and writing the contract for a new music video. She also announced her plans to release a special signed EP featuring three of the album's singles, remixes, and bonus content previously available through her PledgeMusic project. Then Kerli revealed that she would compete in Eesti Laul 2017, with the song Spirit Animal.[4] She reached the final and finished second in the competition.[5] On March 9, 2017, Kerli posted a video on Youtube saying that, since the competition was over, her priority would have been the album and its finishing, the artwork and some music videos.[6] On August 12, 2017, Kerli performed in an Estonian festival called Kuressaare Merepäevad, where she sang almost all of her singles. The same show was performed at One Love Fest and at Pühajärve Jaanituli, on October 22, 2017 and June 23, 2018 respectively.
Singles[]
- Feral Hearts was the first single from the album, released on February 19, 2016 and premiered the night before at Kiek in de Kök.[7] Via PledgeMusic, Kerli released a single pack including also the Forest Sessions (later renamed as The Sacred Forest Session), a piano version of the song, an audio commentary, and an instrumental track called Journey Through the Elven Kingdom. The music video, directed by CJ Kask, was published on February 25, and an EP featuring three remixes was released on April 8.[8][9] Feral Hearts (The Sacred Forest Session), a piano version of the song, was released for free via TheHive, along with its music video published on YouTube on April 26 and appeared on every digital music store on May 6.[10][11] The song was nominated for the Estonian Music Awards 2017.
- Blossom was the second single from the album, released on April 28 via Kerli's YouTube channel, and on April 29 for the online music stores.[12][13] The PledgeMusic pack included, also, the commentary of the song, that was featured in the behind-the-scenes video, published on May 20, and the The Halls of Heaven Session, a choral version of the song, which had its music video released on May 27.[14][15]
- Racing Time was the first promotional single from the album, released for free on June 24, 2016. The song was supposed to be part of the official soundtrack for Alice Through the Looking Glass, the sequel of Alice in Wonderland, but didn't make the cut.[16] The song is not included in the EP. She additionally wrote two other songs for said soundtrack (Follow Your Compass and In the Ocean of Time), but neither made the cut and remain currently unreleased and unleaked.
- Diamond Hard was the third single from the album, released on July 27, 2016, with also the official music video.[17][18] On November 16, Kerli published an EP that includes four remixes of the song.[19]
February 19, 2016
February 19, 2016
June 24, 2016
July 27, 2016
Vlog series[]
- Main article: Vlogs
Since the announcing of the album, Kerli started a vlog series discussing her journey, expressing her spiritual thoughts, answering questions and much more.
Track listing[]
All songs written by Kerli Kõiv, alongside the listed co-writers.
| # | Title | Co-writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Feral Hearts | Lester Mendez | Lester Mendez | 4:39 |
| 2. | Blossom | Ago Teppand | Ago Teppand | 3:58 |
| 3. | Diamond Hard | N/A | Kõiv | 4:02 |
| 4. | Journey Through the Elven Kingdom | N/A | Kõiv | 10:59 |
| 5. | Feral Hearts (Melvv Remix) | Mendez | Mendez | 5:03 |
| 6. | Feral Hearts (Varien Remix) | Mendez | Mendez | 4:32 |
| 7. | Feral Hearts (Fatum Remix) | Mendez | Mendez | 4:00 |
| 8. | Blossom (Futuristik Remix) | Teppand | Teppand | 3:53 |
| 9. | Feral Hearts (The Sacred Forest Session) | Mendez | Mendez | 5:03 |
| 10. | Blossom (The Halls of Heaven Session) | Teppand | Teppand | 2:36 |
| 11. | Feral Hearts (Audio Commentary) | N/A | N/A | 4:35 |
| 12. | Blossom (Audio Commentary) | N/A | N/A | 3:06 |
Credits and personnel[]
- Ago Teppand - composer (2), producer (2, 3), mixer (2)
- Jörgen Paabu - photographer, cover art
- Kerli Kõiv - composer, producer (3, 9, 10), vocal producer, vocal engineer, mixer (4, 9, 10), cover art designer
- Kristjan Kallas - percussionist (2)
- Lester A. Mendez - composer, producer (1)
- Robert Orton - mixer (1)
- Ülenurme laulustuudio - choral vocals (2, 10)
Labels and publishing companies
- Metasongs (1)
- Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (1)
- Small Victory Music (2)
- Tiny Cute Monster
- Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
Gallery[]
Digital Booklet[]
References[]
- ↑ Kerli – Deepest Roots (2016, CD). Discogs. Retrieved on August 30, 2019.
- ↑ Album Update. OfficialKerli. October 4th, 2016. YouTube.
- ↑ Kerli - New Single and PledgeMusic Announcement. OfficialKerli. December 13, 2015. YouTube.
- ↑ Estonia: Eesti Laul 2017 Participants Announced. Anthony Granger. 8 November 2016. eurovoix.com. Eurovoix.
- ↑ Estonia: Koit Toome & Laura win Eesti Laul 2017 with “Verona”. 4 March 2017. Wiwibloggs.com. Wiwibloggs.
- ↑ Vlog 9.3.17 Spirit animal + Album talk + Positive vibes. OfficialKerli. March 9,2017. YouTube.
- ↑ Feral Hearts - Single. Kerli. iTunes.
- ↑ Kerli - Feral Hearts (Official Music Vídeo). OfficialKerli. February 25th, 2016. YouTube.
- ↑ Feral Hearts Remixes - Single. Kerli. iTunes.
- ↑ Kerli - Feral Hearts (The Sacred Forest Session). OfficialKerli. April 26th, 2016. YouTube.
- ↑ Feral Hearts (The Forest Sessions) - Single. Kerli. iTunes.
- ↑ Kerli - Blossom (Official Music Video). OfficialKerli. April 28th, 2016. YouTube.
- ↑ Blossom - Single. Kerli. April 29th, 2016. iTunes.
- ↑ Kerli - Blossom (Making of The Official Video). OfficialKerli. May 20th, 2016. YouTube.
- ↑ Kerli - Blossom (The Halls of Heaven Session). OfficialKerli. May 27th, 2016. YouTube.
- ↑ Kerli on Instagram: "Dear Moon Babies ✨🌙 I've got a special treat for u🐇...". Kerli. June 26, 2016. Facebook.
- ↑ Diamond Hard - Single. Kerli. July 27th, 2016. iTunes.
- ↑ Kerli - Diamond Hard (Official Music Video). OfficialKerli. July 27th, 2016. YouTube.
- ↑ Diamond Hard [Remixes - EP]. Kerli. November 16th, 2016. iTunes.