Berlin-based composer and vocalist KOOB returns with “Therapist”, the explosive lead single from her upcoming album Off Head, due June 7th, 2025, and we premiere it here at LOCK. Blending avant-jazz, experimental soul, and improvisational chaos, KOOB channels emotional burnout and urban anxiety into a cathartic sonic experience.
Born during an S-Bahn breakdown and punctuated by what KOOB calls “ADHD jazz,” “Therapist” spirals through fragmented rhythms and surging vocal intensity. Her lyrics teeter between rejection and plea — “I don’t need help!” she protests — while the music contradicts her, revealing fragility through fractured beauty.
There’s a deliberate volatility to the track, balancing fiery improvisation with moments of clarity. The result is a compelling portrait of inner turmoil, reminiscent of Hiatus Kaiyote’s experimental edge and the spoken-word urgency of Akua Naru. KOOB’s ability to stretch and distort jazz’s traditional form without losing emotional precision is her true strength.
As a preview of Off Head, “Therapist” is fearless and unfiltered — a powerful statement from an artist reshaping the language of contemporary jazz with defiance and depth.