August 1, 2025 — Independent Polish singer, producer, and performer Itsanez returns with "Race," a genre-bending blend of contemporary R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop that captures the emotional chaos of trying to keep up in today’s relentless world. The track marks a significant step in her artistic evolution—both sonically and thematically.
"Pretty much the feeling I experienced the most is being completely lost in the world," Itsanez says, opening up about the inspiration behind the song. "You feel like you should be doing more. You feel like you should be doing things faster, like progressing faster. You compare yourself to other artists or people, and you see, wow, we are doing this, and I am here."
"Race" is a candid and soulful reflection of that exact pressure—of feeling like you’re sprinting through life with no map, just to keep up with expectations. Starting with a smooth beat she crafted by playing around on her keyboard and incorporating samples from Splice, Itsanez let inspiration guide her. "I was like, okay, what do I want to say today? Like, what do I want to write about? It just kind of came naturally, pretty much."
The result is a smooth, butter-like vocal flow layered with introspective lyrics and subtle production lifts that swell into a moment of emotional clarity. "By the end… I start singing, 'I've been doing this for a long time now,' and the background vocals come in, and the melody changes a little bit. This is like the culmination," she recalls.
Visually, "Race" comes to life through a carefully crafted music video split between dark and light imagery—representing the internal battle between self-doubt and hope. "I love the doll-like persona… I just love the atmosphere and that we could kind of just mess around with the visuals," she says. Despite the video being shot in just one day, Itsanez was energized by the process: "I did not feel tired at all… once we finished, I felt like I could do another 12 hours."
The visuals reflect a duality she’s come to embrace musically as well. While the song leans into themes of being overwhelmed, it doesn’t stay there. "By the end, it gets more hopeful. It says something between the lines: okay, I'm lost, but that's fine. I've been there before. I'll be fine. I'm fine," she shares. "So I feel like I'm starting to be more hopeful when it comes to music."
As a self-taught producer, Itsanez credits each track she makes as a step forward in her growth. "Each and every song helps me actually evolve and get better. I'm still teaching myself as I go. I'm trying to find my own sound… I think 'Race' is one of these songs I'm actually proud of."
That pride and independence run deep. "I love just being able to work, just shut myself in this room for hours and just create… Just being in this creative space, and this is the best part of everyday life for me."
With "Race," Itsanez not only opens a new chapter in her career but also extends a hand to anyone feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands. "We all feel lost, we all feel pressured. And it's okay… I'll be fine, you'll be fine. Just—we'll get through this."
"Race" is available now on all streaming platforms. Watch the official music video on YouTube.
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