I feel both privileged and honoured to write this review ahead of the official release on September 12, of Kinvara’s breathtaking rendition of I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, written by the legendary Diane Warren. It’s also essential to note the prolific guitarist playing throughout this track, is Nigel Jenkins.

Kinvara offers a poignant and strikingly intimate take on this iconic ballad. From the very first note, there’s an immediate sense of connection. Her voice is simultaneously powerful and gentle; Kinvara draws the listener in, offering a recording that feels as though it’s being sung directly to the, as Freud coined, organ of the soul. She delivers the lyrics with delicious tones, an induced calm and precision; there’s also a passion-infused enunciation that brings new meaning to lyrics we thought we already knew.

The timbre of Kinvara’s voice adds another depth of richness, warmth, and emotionally resonance. It’s the kind of tone that wraps around the melody like a piece of newly woven silk, giving the track a quiet strength and determination even in its softest moments. Her vocal delivery carries a sense of vulnerability that never feels forced; rather, lived-in and sincere.

What makes this rendition, especially captivating, is the simplicity of the arrangement in the opening. Just Kinvara and a guitar.

This minimalist starts strips the song back to its core, which permits her vocals to breathe and expand the intention in the manner I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing is sung. It’s in this simplicity that the emphasised essence of the track lives. As more instruments gradually enter, they do so with restraint and purpose, building toward a climactic crescendo that hits with a tsunami like force of nature. I would also say, like a creeping ivy, a very slow burn that delivers. The contrast between the soft beginning and the eventual full instrumentation offers a satisfying arc that emits a personal cinematic dreamscape.

There’s a subtlety to the overall production that renders a beautiful musical-like painting. In the quieter moments, the track is like a watercolour painting, gentle, muted, and exquisite, with morsels of colour that seem to bleed into each other. As the song unfolds, those colours grow bolder, more vibrant, culminating in large, booming notes that radiate with intensity. These moments envelop you and manifest a visceral response that lingers long after the final note. (Never fading goosebumps!)

Kinvara doesn’t simply sing I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, she interprets it, reimagines it, and makes it her own. Kinvara’s version honours the power of the original while offering a fresh and lush perspective that feels incredibly timely and timeless all at once. This is not just a cover. It’s a statement, a stunning showcase of vocal control, emotional nuance, and artistic integrity. Kinvara’s rendition will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression, regardless of if you are hearing the song for the first time or on an infinite loop. Click this link to Kinvara’s Instagram to keep posted on all her music releases.