Growing in her exploration of music, iyla has already had quite a journey of influences; from being the daughter of a choir director, joining an RnB girl group named Fine China, to collaborating with Snoop Dogg on artist Anise K’s single Walking On Air. Even iyla’s experiences and musical inspirations; Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Willie Nelson and Muse (to name a few), are just as varied. Helping the artist to form a unique sound that pulls on all the best bits of RnB and pop, while having a power-house of vocals to top it off.
Her debut EP War + Raindrops explore a range of themes within love; looking for respect – Flowers, falling in love – Juice, a broken-heart – California, to choosing and loving yourself first – Power. But it’s Shampoo that’s the most ear-catching, as iyla sings about walking away from a relationship, and it won’t be her that’s looking back but them;
“My song on replay in your speaker
I left my t-shirt on the edge of your king bed”
iyla’s strong vocals being left on repeat in my head, while its beat has an almost acoustic rock vibe mixed to the lush allure of RnB. The music video however produces a double-take from the earlier assumption of her ex-lover’s regret (at having the relationship end) – to instead show the hurt of mental health, and a stark warning to check on loved ones. For now, as iyla sings the chorus;
“Now you gon’ miss me when I’m gone
You gon’ miss me when I’m gone
And I’ve been waiting for too long
So you gon’ miss me when I’m gone”
You see her in various situations of suicide; pills, having hung herself, in a bathtub – from which a line of red crystals (that match “…my necklace on your counter”) have fallen from iyla’s hand and into the bathtub. Artistically arranged, the director Patrick “Embryo” Tapu is paying homage and remembrance to Alexander McQueen, including a scene which sees iyla’s unflinching ex turning the pages of McQueen’s fashion book Savage Beauty. But most touchingly at the end, iyla cuts herself down from the rope that she’s hung by, and in an emotionally-breaking scene is the one to console herself.
Elsewhere in the video, iyla is shown to be performing her song while a painted backdrop of heaven surrounds her, and she herself sits on a bed of clouds – could this mean a certain peace in ending her relationship? Although the most telling sign might be the cloud above her head – its symbol within mental health representing confusion, commotion and a head full of unrest.
Done as sensitively as possible, Shampoo looks at the harm that can be caused to someone by ignoring their pleas for help (as the boyfriend in the video just carries on around her), and to also treasure the people around us more – for you’ll miss them when their gone. The symbolism in the video respectful and insightful, from the first moment you see her lying on the bed; pills scattered around her, her hand resting on the phone – calling for help.
It’s easy to hear the full-heart and soul iyla puts into her tracks, her strength as an artist only continuing to grow, while she marks her place as an RnB musician that’s pushing the boundaries of its genre – just that little bit further.
Other songs by iyla we love:
- Cash Rules (feat. Method Man) (2020 – OTHER WAYS TO VENT [EP])
- Strings (2020 – OTHER WAYS TO VENT [EP])
- Flowers (2018 – War + Raindrops [EP])
- Juice (2018 – War + Raindrops [EP])
Other artists you might like:
- Jade Novah
- Lolo Zouaï
- QUIN
- TeaMarrr
- The Bonfyre
