Written in a burst of inspiration and largely freestyled in the studio, Sick is a dark, emotionally charged Alt-R&B track from Jena Keating. Drawing from feelings of sorrow, anger and a stubborn sense of hope, the song reflects on a world that often feels broken at its core.
The opening line sets the tone immediately: “Sick of a system that’s sick from the center cause…”
Against a backdrop of political division, misinformation, ongoing conflicts, attacks on women’s rights and growing social unrest, Sick channels a collective frustration that many will recognise.
“Sick of a population running away from their scars.”
The song began unexpectedly while Jena was sitting in the seating area of a Centra in Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry, waiting for a lift to Sulan Studios in Ballyvourney.
“I had 25 minutes when I realised I wanted to write a song,” she explains. “I wrote a small verse that would become the foundation of the track. I’ve been practising freestyle a lot more, and after spending time in front of the microphone, the rest of the song started to bloom naturally.”
Rather than overthinking the process, Jena allowed the music to lead the way.
“Art is disturbed when it is not allowed to speak for itself, so I let it do the talking.”
The result is Sick, an honest, raw and uncompromising reflection of modern times, delivered through haunting melodies and deeply personal lyricism.