‘Therapist’ by KOOB

Berlin-based KOOB returns with ‘Therapist’, the electrifying lead single from her upcoming album Off Head  – a project already shaping up to be one of 2025’s most compelling jazz statements. Born in Minsk to Ethiopian heritage, her sound is a fearless blend of avant-garde jazz, experimental soul, and raw improvisation. With ‘Therapist’, she channels the dissonance of modern mental strain into something both chaotic and sublime.

Written during a disorienting S-Bahn ride, the track captures a moment of existential overload sparked by a cartoon elephant in an ad – surreal, yes, but strikingly real. KOOB calls it “ADHD jazz,” a label that fits the song’s jagged rhythm shifts, sudden tempo swings, and bursts of melodic catharsis. Her vocals oscillate between weary defiance and unguarded vulnerability, articulating a familiar post-pandemic emotional haze with stunning precision.

Recorded live in Berlin, the single pulses with improvisational energy, yet its structure is meticulous. KOOB knows the language of jazz well enough to tear it apart and reassemble it into something urgent and new. Fans of Hiatus Kaiyote’s boldness or Akua Naru’s spoken-word fire will feel at home here – but make no mistake: KOOB’s voice is her own. With ‘Therapist’, she confronts emotional chaos and transforms it into art you can’t look away from.