Stanisland Magazine

The R&B singer releases a fresh single as the rising star continues to develop her unique style.

Aqyila has gone from strength to strength following the viral impact of her 2024 single Bloom. Having sold out her headline show in Toronto and performed at the prestigious Jazz Café for Mahalia Presents, interest in her work is beginning to simmer. The singer has had music featured on the Amazon show Harlem and her debut album Falling Into Place is due for release this March.

Her new song, Focus, switches styles and is a return to a grassroots effort she is known for; a spirited endeavour for the genre.

What Focus Sounds Like

Featuring velvety snares and smooth baselines, Focus presents a message of self-worth and not settling for anything less. Its up-tempo pace aligns with the singer’s demands as she effuses confidence in her needs, highlighted in the artist’s delivery, platformed by lyrics such as, “All for me, I’m so greedy, Won’t go easy…”

Written by Sam Hook, responsible for hits by Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, and Justin Bieber, the music was produced by in-demand British beat-maker Monro, known for working with Jhené Aiko. Pivoting a contemporary vibe, it synchronises with the classic seams of a Darkchild-esque composition, providing a balance for old-school music lovers and listeners who crave sonic modernity.

Verdict

It’s a great initial effort following the album’s announcement, bringing home the potential for nuances of a debut we can be excited about. A motif in Aqyila’s music exemplifies the resurgence of an early to mid-2000s rhythm and blues track, present in all her past releases, like Hello and Vibe for Me (Bob for Me). The synthetic sampling of strings underlines this idea and is commendable for those seeking a more refreshing body of work.

Where to Stream

Focus is available to stream on most major platforms including Spotify and Apple Music via Sony Music/Columbia Records. A visualiser for the song has also been released on YouTube.