Laila! is really like that.
Following a string of massively viral moments throughout the year culminating last week in her official full-length debut, the 18-year-old singer, songwriter and producer has quickly become the latest teenage sensation to explode onto the national stage. This might be her gap year, but Laila! is looking like the freshman to beat.
The true embodiment of the DIY generation (from her GarageBand production to the “!” in her name) everything you hear from Laila was made by her in her bedroom. And that includes her viral breakout hit “Like That!” that took TikTok by storm last fall as well as the infectious jerk-infused “Not My Problem” which quickly became one of the biggest-ever On the Radar Freestyles and spawned Cash Cobain’s supermix featuring an insane list of 16 artists – from rising stars Anycia, Rob49, and Luh Tyler to certified legends like Fabolous, Big Sean, 6lack, and Flo Milli.
With the arrival of Gap Year!, a full exploration of her captivatingly unorthodox approach to R&B, Laila is not only proving she’s more than a viral moment, she’s cementing her place amongst the most promising rising stars of the moment.
Underlying Laila’s catchy viral hooks, there is a raw and refreshing approach to R&B that is less about hitting notes and more about capturing a vibe: one that is youthful and age-appropriate but also impossibly cool and wise at the same time. Her captivating tone, unorthodox flows and raw self-recorded vocals come together to create a uniquely satisfying package and give her music an intimate feel like a live performance – with a very personal, idiosyncratic feel like Tyler the Creator or Frank Ocean and a strikingly unique tone like those of Brent Faiyaz or Sampha. There’s a reason they call her Baby Genius.
While her sound is rooted in R&B, her approach to creating and many tracks throughout the project, including the already certified hits “Like That!” and “Not My Problem,” definitely have a hip hop feel where she contrasts her gentle melodies with a kind of sing-rap hybrid. Like on early standout “Want 2” and “If I Don’t Know By Now” where she contrasts her airy vocals with cutely chanted hooks like “I’m cute in the face and I make hard beats.” And while her vocals may not be traditional, the ways she runs on “R U Down?” or owns stripped-down tracks like “Could Be” and “if you’re listening (interlude)” is pretty much undeniable.
Like her vocals, the self-produced production has a raw and hugely cohesive feel even though it ranges all the way from vibey grooves, to piano ballads, to full-on jerk – drawing on a cool combination of sounds from soul to jazz to borderline disco to create unique, dynamic arrangements especially on tracks like “Grand Opening” and “Blackberry (Date 4 Prom).” She also utilizes what could only be described as Odd Future-esque west coast drum sounds throughout the project, perhaps most notably on “SINK 2 RISE” and “Want 2.” Alll of which combine to create a nostalgic, old-school feel that still feels perfectly of the moment.
Throughout the project, listeners are treated to an immersive experience that feels like you’re watching a 80s style coming-of-age story in real time updated for 2024. At just 18 years old, her lyrics are remarkably straightforward, vulnerable and self aware, navigating out loud her actual experience of young love and growing up in today’s weird world. The opening track “Talent Show” starts with a humbly confident introduction followed by a full blown live acoustic performance recorded in front of an actual audience. That and other songs like the impromptu “Sani (Homework Freestyle)” or the voicemail message from “Mami Nelly” feel raw, organic, and like genuinely successful versions of the often-attempted skit. And even little moments like the matter-of-factly delivered “Hope you enjoyed that” in the final seconds of the closing track really bring the album to life.
If you’ve ever wondered what a 80s teen R&B sensation would sound like if they went to highschool during pandemic shutdowns, it seems we have our answer. At a time where older fans are finding it difficult to relate to the youth, Laila combines an old school feel with a Gen-Z attitude, bridging the gap between the golden era and the Bandlab generation like never before – or more accurately GarageBand, where she creates all of her songs to this day. With two huge hits and a debut album already under her belt, the tools to create them at her fingertips, and one of the most refreshing, original sounds to debut this year, Baby Genius is having one of the most productive gap years on record.
Listen to Laila’s ‘Gap Year!’ Below