American pop artist Kelsie Kimberlin unveils “Perfume”, her third single of 2025, accompanied by a poignant music video filmed on the cobblestone streets of wartorn Kyiv. What begins as a sultry pop reverie about love’s intoxicating pull transforms into a powerful tribute to Ukrainian resilience, bearing witness to both romance and tragedy in a city under siege.
The track spins Kimberlin’s high school fascination with Patrick Süskind’s Perfume: The Story of a Murderer into a lush, dreamlike pop confession. Where the original novel took a macabre turn, Kimberlin’s interpretation is alluring and euphoric—a celebration of love’s magnetic pull, with fragrance as its metaphor. “No words are needed when the right perfume—like the right love—enchants you,” she explains.
Produced with Grammy-winning pedigree (mixed by Liam Noland (Adele), mastered by Stuart Hawkes (Amy Winehouse)), “Perfume” shimmers with polished yet intimate pop craftsmanship. Kimberlin’s vocals glide between breathy desire and crystalline clarity, mirroring the push-pull of infatuation over a minimalist, bass-driven groove.
Directed by Kimberlin and Pavlo Khomiuk, the visuals follow her silent, enigmatic stroll through Kyiv’s historic streets, trailed by a lovestruck admirer. The idyllic scenes—sun-dappled alleys, fleeting embraces—belied the grim reality of filming in a warzone. Hours after shooting, a Russian drone strike killed 15-year-old Mariya Troyanovskaya nearby, to whom Kimberlin dedicates the song.
This duality haunts the project: “Perfume” is both a sensual fantasy and an unflinching document of Kyiv’s courage. The video’s tranquility becomes a tribute to normalcy persisting under fire.
Kimberlin—who has 100+ original songs and tens of millions of streams—uses her platform unapologetically. This year, she’ll release a feature film about Ukrainian resistance, touring with its soundtrack (featuring her music) to amplify the cause. “Perfume” previews this mission: a pop gem with geopolitical weight.
“Perfume” lingers like its namesake—sweet, heady, and impossible to shake. Kimberlin masterfully entwines romance and activism, proving pop can be both escapism and a call to arms.
