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Photo: Dylan DeJong Dougherty

For any body of work, the first element is the skeleton that supports it, and this is true of Laila! and her latest record Gap Year!, which begins with "Talent Show," a track that puts her natural talent on display. The song, honest in its performance, shines a light on the vocal prowess of Laila!, who carries the melodies of the composition fluidly to the rhythm of an electric guitar that rings reverberant.

"Talent Show" formally introduces the artist, and as we move to the next musical number, we discover the producer, who is also Laila!, and that is the flesh encasing the bones. Laila!, 18 years old, has been producing music for years now, and her inaugural album is an exposé of her talents. "SINK 2 Rise," with its lush R&B segues, shows how both the singer and producer merge to display the full body of her work.

The relaxed kick drum beat, cascading harmonies, and striking piano chords are carefully molded to produce a song that feels modern and nostalgic in the same breath. The same is true of tracks like "Want 2," which asymmetrically flourishes and crackles with synth phrases alongside vocal refrains that feel nestled between the late '80s and early '90s heyday of soul music.

That said, it would not feel modern without dynamic components that break the expected flow, such as the case in "Like That!"—a song glazed with a dreamlike hip-hop flair. Laila! flows naturally alongside a thumping beat and layers sweet harmonies that contrast with the beat-to-voice tenacity. The track stands out and feels like a premium product built from years of experience with modern music-making tools.

The album’s star track is "Not My Problem," feeling like the moment when Laila! establishes a recognizable sound, zestful in its production. The beats, ad-libs, and transitions grow sharper and more infectious, adding a vibrancy that exudes professional craftsmanship. "Coupé DeVille" closes out the record in a dreamy fashion, with a bassline that is as syrupy as it is delightful.

Laila! is having fun, and the anatomy of the record shows that. It gives freedom to music production and how one imagines it in 2024. This is not to say that there isn’t a level of seriousness and expectation attached to the work—after all, Laila! is the daughter of Yasiin Bey, known to most as Mos Def. One could be forgiven for not knowing that, seeing as Laila! carved her niche on TikTok among her generational peers.

Ultimately, that is what Gap Year! is truly all about—a daring artist who saw an opportunity to express herself via a medium and produced a fuselage that is now taking flight. As Laila! continues to refine her craft and amass fans, the entire music industry has opened the door to possibilities immense in their scope. If this record is an exercise in talent, then the routine has just begun, and the pinnacles of it await us all.

Listen to Gap Year below: