Listen: LAYLA – “Smokestacks”

Some artists take a heck of a long time to finally get themselves noticed. Some may fall by the wayside – just give up because the effort is too much, especially in this saturated music market. But for those who keep plugging on, it can be extremely rewarding. LAYLA has been around for a fair while, both as Jose Vanders and as LAYLA, but her new single “Smokestacks” looks like it’s going to be the track that gets everyone talking.

“Smokestacks” is one of those songs that grows and swells into a beast that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. With just an opening piano loop that sounds like it could have come straight from Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”, you know this is going to be something interesting.

It’s a hazy, dreamy beginning before LAYLA’s vocals cut through with a real icy quality. Her vocals are filled with that raw emotion we saw from Elena Tonra on Daughter’s debut album last year, as it soars above the lush orchestration and almost frantic percussion. The whole package begins to fall into place like a beautifully haunting jigsaw puzzle as layers are placed atop layers, before the whole thing comes crashing down in a confidently constructed climax.

With her new EP, Black Mud, out April 28, “Smokestacks” is LAYLA’s call for people to pay attention; a call it will be very, very hard to ignore.