"I sing when I can't speak": Evi Jai introduces herself with smoky throwback bop "Mr Green"

Singer/songwriter Evi Jai - aka Evi Jaiven of Richmond, Virginia - wants you to know she's in it for the long haul. Despite "Mr Green" being her debut, Jaiven already has her sights set on being a role model and inspiration all while making sure her music make people feeling something.

"I want my music to really mean something to people," she explains. "Everybody wants to be somebody, everyone wants to mean something, and that's hopefully the feeling my music will give them."

Starting life as a voice memo, "Mr Green" falls somewhere between Meghan Trainor, Alessia Cara, and Rihanna with its retro-tinged production, smoking at a party storyline, and raspy vocals. "I sing when I can't speak," Evi says. "Anytime I feel anxious the first thing I do is hum."

Jaiven's single is polished - but still has edges intact - and while it sounds like the product of a well-oiled major label machine, Jaiven remains as independent as they come.