Like any other person who spends their time on YouTube, you tend to get recommended many things based on the videos you watch. Not too long ago I kept seeing a video by the artist name Iyla, in the preview of the video there is a yellow backdrop and a girl with long firefly red hair. That’s what ultimately drew me to the video. The picture looked like something very contemporary and artistic, and the more I kept seeing it I knew I had to listen to it. Once I clicked the video and a few seconds played I knew that I have fallen in love with a new artist.
Iyla is a LA singer songwriter and a upcoming artist. Soon her name is going to be popping up everywhere. Her newest EP War + Raindrops released on October 12, 2018 and has climb to being #11 on iTunes R&B/Soul album charts and #16 on apple music R&B charts. The album is all about the flows of life and love. She has the swag and the “Juice” With her vocals being truly outstanding along with production of each song by the album is amazing from start to finish.
Here is a breakdown of each song.
Flowers: When a guy messes up and tries to bring you flowers to make it up to you. Iyla basically throws her middle fingers up and says “F***” flowers. As the lyrics go “Your words don’t mean a thing, you messed up everything, you can’t fix with roses.” Every girl does not like flowers and excuses are old.
Shampoo: The video for Shampoo was dropped December 19, 2018. This a sad song and along with the video and its symbolic meaning behind it leaves you in your feelings. It is about leaving the little things at your ex’s place. Your favorite shampoo, a t-shirt or even a necklace. Leaving a piece of you with them. Giving someone all your love and not getting that love reciprocated back can be hurtful. It leaves you wondering if the person ever truly cared for you. A relationship where you take care of each other but sadly Iyla didn’t receive this. It led to depression and in the end deciding to end things. Sometime people don’t know what they have in front of them and are taken advantage of their significant others. However, Iyla wants you to know that you are worth more.
Juice: Her first released video was dropped October 16, 2018. Each shot of the video was beautiful. It was visually pleasing along with the beat, it’s a jam. Iyla has this person in her life that came out of nowhere and somehow, they work well with each other. This video made me a fan and truly lover her style of music. You can hear the soul in her voice. She’s something special.
California: It’s always sunny in California but Iyla finds her days being dark and grey. While summer love is beautiful people change up. Her summer love falls for someone else even though Iyla saw them as a star in her life.
Power(I): A POWERFUL way to end an ep. This was one of my favorite songs, however it was the shortest. But I have learned over some time that the shortest songs are always the best songs. I’m a sucker for harmonies and this song is an eargasm. Iyla finally has someone that loves all of her and treats her well. That her previous relationship will not take her power away from her. She is leaving everything in the past and moving on just like her ex did. She is over everything there is no looking back. There is no more talking as she said “Silence is louder, as I take back my power”. This song makes me feel like the gif below.
Stream “War + Raindrops EP” on Apple Music and Spotify. You won’t regret it.