Review: The Things I Can’t Take With Me x Yaya Bey
Yaya Bey’s work has always felt personal in the best way, a reflection of lived life. It is easy to get lost in emotional imagery as Bey holds a mirror up to her own experiences and kaleidoscope of inner thoughts. The now Brooklyn based artist conjures a rawness in her work that speaks to you through its relatability and pulls you into a soothing void no matter the subject. This experience can be attributed to clever self-production, a voice that swings between spoken word and song, and lyrics that emulate diary pages. It is clear Bey is a writer. Writing in music translates to storytelling. It’s a strong suit for Bey that has been present in past work but truly stands out on her latest project The Things I Can’t Take With Me, which reads as a full narrative. On the six track EP we find ourselves front row to another chapter of Bey’s life as she covers the sore aftermath of a breakup and pains of life in general. Although seeped in melancholy, it is also a project of healing. The project has a fullness to it that personifies the iconic lines from the Michael Rosen’s childhood nursery rhyme We're Going on a Bear Hunt — “we can’t go over it, we can’t go under it, we got to go through it.”
Bey gets right to it with the root of things, the opening autobiographical track explores generational pains and traumas that often manifest themselves in us as barriers to love. Despite its somber subject, it is ultimately a song of self-reflection and understanding. Bey follows with september 13th, a dreary track that embodies heartbreak on a rainy day yet there is still light as Bey tenderly recites “when I get out this hole that you dug for me, I’ma have a brand new shiny new love for me.” Desolation continues on we’ll skate soon where Bey brilliantly creates a bluesy walk in the park with well-placed ad libs, surface noise and vocal layering over soft keys that truly sets the scene. We pick up a bit on you up?, a remembrance of the joy and toxic hard love that is a prelude to heartache because “that dick is golden.” Horns of freedom open fxck it then before Bey floats in on the soulful track filled with perfect mantra lines for the get back. Healing has arrived and continues on the two-part outro track industry love/a protection spell which is both personal and political. The first portion of the song tackles the difficult love of art and self when navigating the troubling music industry. We then transition to protection spell, and it is just that, a delicate prayer for peace of mind and power as Bey closes with the authoritative declaration “no weapon forms against me, not even you”
In its entirety, The Things I Can’t Take With Me is an intimate work that seemingly means more to Bey than we will ever know. Bey shines through open expressions of vulnerability that is accented by production that captures the essence of sensitivity and the mood of each track — a talent that should not be overlooked. It is a timely project for coping with therapeutic elements allowing listeners to connect to their own personal journeys. Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming work as Yaya Bey continues to carve her own lane in the music scene. What comes after healing is normally next level.
