Some records arrive with a clear idea of where they belong. Others seem to deliberately step across the line between styles, and TaniA Kyllikki’s “HUMAN” is very much in the second category. Built around a deep house foundation but carrying the emotional weight of soul and gospel, the track creates an intriguing meeting point between club-oriented movement and a message that asks for a little more attention. It is warm, direct and surprisingly expansive in its intentions.
The rhythmic side of the production immediately gives the song its physical character. Rather than treating the electronic beat as simple decoration beneath the vocal, Rynellton builds a pulse that keeps “HUMAN” moving with a steady sense of purpose. The groove has that hypnotic quality associated with house music, while the techno influence adds a tougher edge to the overall framework. There is repetition, naturally, but it never feels completely static. Small shifts in pressure and texture help the rhythm breathe, allowing the track to maintain momentum without becoming overly mechanical.
That balance becomes particularly effective when the synth work enters the picture. The electronic textures create an atmospheric bed that feels spacious enough for the vocal to remain at the centre, yet substantial enough to give the production its own personality. There is a certain darkness around the edges, a pulsating electronic character that contrasts nicely with the warmth coming from Kyllikki’s performance. Instead of smoothing out the differences between soul and electronic music, “HUMAN” lets them remain audible, and that tension is one of its most interesting qualities.
At the heart of the track, however, stands a voice that refuses to be treated as just another layer in the arrangement. TaniA Kyllikki moves naturally between more intimate passages and powerful, soaring moments, bringing a gospel-soul sensibility into an environment built from programmed rhythms and synth-driven textures. Her five-octave range is certainly an impressive technical asset, but what matters more here is how she uses it. The vocal performance has conviction. When she pushes harder, the production seems to become larger around her.
The contrast works because the electronic side never attempts to overpower that human element. Instead, the beat provides urgency while the vocal supplies emotional perspective. There is something almost deliberately old-fashioned about the sincerity of the performance, yet the surrounding production keeps the track firmly connected to contemporary electronic music. It is a combination that could easily have become excessive, but “HUMAN” generally finds a convincing middle ground.
Atmospherically, the release also benefits from its central contradiction. The music encourages movement, while the lyrics invite reflection. That duality gives the track more substance than a straightforward dancefloor cut. The repeated question of what it means to be human gradually takes on the quality of a mantra, reinforced by the circular nature of the groove. Rather than forcing a complicated answer onto the listener, the song leaves the question open, allowing its emotional meaning to develop through repetition.
There is also a genuine sense of scale here. What began as an unexpected idea between Kyllikki and Rynellton has become a production capable of occupying a much bigger sonic space. Their creative partnership is evident in the way the vocal and instrumental elements interact: neither feels completely separate from the other. The arrangement appears designed around the voice, but the electronic architecture gives it room to become something more than a conventional soulful performance.
“HUMAN” ultimately succeeds because its genre collision feels purposeful rather than calculated. Deep house, techno, soul and gospel influences are brought together without losing sight of the song itself. The result is polished, energetic and emotionally open, with enough rhythmic drive to work in a club-oriented setting while retaining the intimacy of a personal statement.
For us at Parkett, this is exactly the kind of release worth giving space to. “HUMAN” is a high-quality production with a distinctive vocal presence, a compelling rhythmic foundation and an atmosphere that continues to reveal different sides of itself as the track develops. TaniA Kyllikki and Rynellton have created something that moves both physically and emotionally, and we are genuinely happy to host it on our webzine.
