Houston-born artist Ezliyah embraces each phase of her personal and creative evolution with a rare authenticity that we don’t often come across. She’s a former Mannes School opera student and later this classical foundation developed into intimate acoustic songwriting. Now, she’s welcoming in another chapter of self-discovery with a sonic aesthetic steeped in melancholic pop, contemporary R&B and dreamy lo-fi. This has all come to fruition in ‘So Convincing’, a release where emotional vulnerability and artistic ambition come into full focus.
There’s a flowing, gossamer and elusive quality to ‘So Convincing’, where the soft synths shimmer beneath breathy waves of Ezliyah’s confessional vocals. A combination of subtle jazz-tinged rhythms and reverb-dipped guitars pulse beneath her delivery, creating a sense of eerie beauty. It’s an impression of unease that connects so skillfully to this songwriter’s narrative of social anxiety, where the paper-thin mask of confidence runs against the grain of the true apprehension that lies beneath.
Ezliyah navigates this search for identity amidst anxiety with a sincere self-awareness. It’s an experience drawn from her memories of being 18-years-old in New York City, where survival is the modus operandi. She wraps this deep truth in a veil of misleading calm.
With production from composer and mixer Barbra Schucko and mastering by veteran engineer Ryan Kelly, ‘So Convincing’ is a fine balance between elegance and tension. It’s a feeling that clings to your soul long after the song finishes.
You can also listen to ‘So Convincing’ in our R&B For Days playlist.
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