Review: Um, Hello x LAYA
Um, Hello is LAYA’s debut album but it feels like she’s been here before. This feeling can be attributed to her being a true student of the 90’s and 2000’s music that raised her. Fortunately, instead of trying to give us a flashback she takes us forward delivering a vibrant project that honors her love of past era’s while creating her own. There is clear sound and vision supported by crisp production that pushes the boundaries of her alternative R&B sound without being overproduced or reliant on unnecessary autotune. A harmonious album with precise transitions, LAYA is in sync with every song. This is likely a result of her own production and songwriting skills displayed on the project. A treat that accents production is her vocal ability including skillful layering and background placement reminiscent of Full Moon Brandy. As a well thought out concept album, Um, Hello adds LAYA to a growing collection of talented contemporary R&B artists that should have no one asking what happened to the genre. She stands out from the pack with fresh production that avoids on the nose samples in favor of tasteful flips. It is evident that the project and accompanying visuals are the brainchild of her own mind and muses giving us a snapshot into her bright universe.
The album opens with Closed Case, a dreamy opening track with a proper horned intro that builds as LAYA declares that it’s her season blazing with a confidence constant throughout the project. She rides on Bitter with bold lyrics balanced by afrofuturistic production. Too Up’s mellow and simplistic loop allows her toned vocals to carry the song. On Sight is a catchy track and a glimpse into her rap skills that are now a prerequisite for women in music. Brag, which features drill star Fivio Foreign is a reminder that we’re in 2022. Undress ushers us into a more low tempo spaced out R&B that embodies the definition of crazy, sexy, cool. It’s followed by stand out track Crazy Down, a mashup of Beyoncé and Missy’s Elliott’s Crazy Feelings and Brandy’s I Wanna Be Down. Two songs that shouldn’t be touched unless you can really do it justice but LAYA does just that with strong vocals and emotions creating a sleek yet soulful rendition. Sailor Moon bring us the best pairing of modern production and classic 2000’s R&B. Incomplete showcases a deeper side of her current mindset before the album closes with Calling Me (a call back to closed case) which is a play on the albums telephone theme while letting us know LAYA is ready to be called into the spotlight.
Um, Hello is a no skips project that modernizes traditional themes of R&B (the mishaps of love and life with classic voicemail interludes as manifestations honoring its roots. LAYA stuns over lush alt. production moving between high energy and hazy tempos. The album is certainly worthy of being added to all your summer playlist and likely won’t leave rotation. Most importantly, the project feels alive which is a rarity in today’s releases but exactly the reason why she’s one to watch.
Favorite Tracks:
Bitter
Crazy Down
Sailor Moon
Undress
Too Up
