Layal - Roots of Desire
By Ludovica Scarrone (@ludovicascarrone)
RELEASE DATE: JULY 04, 2020
You are going to immerse yourself in a track nurtured by the intersection of DnB, Jazz and Psychedelic Pop. The bewitching sound of the goblet drum brings us to some remote sparkling North African vibes. Layal is a young London-based artist originally from Egypt; shortly after moving to the UK to carve out her place in the industry, she started writing her own music, with the help of producer Christopher Hall. So far, she’s released two tracks and her latest single ‘Roots of Desire’ is a bijou that deserves attention.
Before moving to London, Layal lived in Leeds, that's when she found herself invested in several music genres such as Reggae, Jazz, Blues, Psychedelic pop, Alternative R&B, Rap, Dubstep, DnB, and Techno.
“The bewitching sound of the goblet drum brings us to some remote sparkling North African vibes”
This promising artist also finds herself leaning towards other genres. Artists like Jorja Smith, GreenTea Peng, and Joy Crookes are some of her recent discoveries who managed to shape her music with their lyricism and poetry. Egyptian music and its influence define her musical diversification as she’s not looking to fit under one category. When it comes to writing, Layal is used to indulging herself into the topic of the song, then she brainstorms up the lyrics which she enriches with metaphors, that’s why they are so personal and relatable.
She aims to emulate Egyptian sound and blends it with other genres so to bring light to it, as one would notice in her first single 'The Sun & The Moon’.
It’s this extraordinary journey to where she finds herself now that is encapsulated on ‘Roots of Desire’. This track is pervaded by instrumentation, with a particular fondness for trippy vibes. Since Layal doesn’t feel she belongs to a specific genre, this ancestral fairy tale incorporates different sounds, from Jazz to Blues, to Drum and Bass. Alternating her vocals between atmospheric beats and languorous fermatas, Layal creates the sensation of swirling sounds. The London-based songwriter’s song feels like an invitation to reflect. It is almost otherworldly with chilly imagery, the lyrics convey a catalysing female figure who roams about the world spreading good vibes and sympathy. People can't get enough of it as they benefit from being around someone with a good aura, it inspires them to do and be better. Layal offers the listener a melody which is a journey of storytelling.