IYAMAH - Truth EP.2 [Music Review]
Inspired by Badu and soul-pop balladry alike, UK neo-soul singer IYAMAH channels unflinching honesty and emotional warmth throughout her empowering second project ‘Truth EP.2’.
The Brighton born singer-songwriter didn’t always feel fully at home in herself and her identity, but you certainly wouldn’t guess it. Growing up in a largely white area in Brighton, IYAMAH – real name Sophie Bond - only felt truly in touch with her Nigerian heritage after moving to the UK’s capital, a wonderfully diverse place where it’s near impossible to stick out.
Grown up and armed with a hard-won feeling of belonging, IYAMAH’s music captures an R&B artist who’s self-aware enough to be well-versed in her own flaws, but has the self-assuredness to know that insecurities and worries are all part of being human, and don’t need to impinge on a person’s wellbeing. Big, grooving rhythms, uplifting melodies and an overall sense of self-acceptance are all over this mood-boosting project, and it’s a very easy pill to swallow.
Taking notes from one of her biggest influences, Eryka Badu, IYAMAH lets her desires, boundaries, fears and tidbits of wisdom flow freely via her rich, languorous vocals backed-up by bold hip-hop beats. Following a short, sweet introduction in the form of ‘Cryptic Love Poem, Pt 2’ (a follow up to part one found on IYAMAH’s previous project, ‘Truth EP.1’) is ‘Shoulda Woulda’ - a dangerously catchy tune that blends licks of an acoustic guitar and jaunty skipping rhythms. It’s also a great example of IYAMAH’s skill for crafting vocal hooks that are near impossible to shake off – the sunny harmonised line of “Shoulda, woulda, coulda!” begs to be sung along to and will likely find its way into your shower singing sesh for days. The bright soul-pop vocals and big rhythms carry on into the defiant, previously released single ‘Won’t Work’, where IYAMAH happily rebuffs a love interest.
Other popular singles that dropped prior to the project are ‘Balance’ – a testament to self-love in the form of routine and the denial-busting break-up tune ‘KYWK’, which thankfully has nothing to do with the Kardashians and instead stands for ‘Kill You With Kindness’. There are also plenty of previously unheard tunes that boast more lashings of rhythmic goodness and infectious soul-infused choruses including ‘No Responsibility’, where IYAMAH’s sweetly wistful vocals are dripping in a desire to be heard and ‘Flowers’, a single in which the artist strands unapologetically jubilant in the face of darkness, her voice intermingled with a sparkling instrumental that suggests a sunshine laced chorus might just be waiting round the corner. The project is notably broken up by two thoughtful interludes. The first, ‘Get To’ features a short humming tune that channels the simple beauty of old soul singing. The second, a poem called ‘The RTSD’, delves into IYAMAH’s former anxieties surrounding her identity where she shows how far she’s come by gracefully describing the realisation that fighting for life that’s “shaped with uncertainty,” is the road to self discovery.
The uplifting piano single ‘Home’ is the right ending for a record that on several occasions, touches on IYAMAH’s winding path towards inner peace. In the final lines on ‘Home’ she sings, “Structure, stability… it's bigger than the eyes can see.” For all her in-depth lyrics and rich vocal arrangements, IYAMAH has clearly learnt that when it comes to the complicated task of finding yourself, simplicity is key.