By: Fatima Privitt
Laila!’s self-produced sophomore album, We’ll Never Be This Young Again, offers a fun, fresh reset take on a pop sound that is constantly being reinterpreted. The 20-year-old artist captures the joy of youth and the freedom of exploring life to the fullest. Standout tracks include “SO MUCH, SO MUCH,” featuring the lyrics “feeling fresh as f—, doing what I want,” and “Angel,” featuring Teezo Touchdown, “Miss Mango,” and the lead single, “We’ll Never Be this Young Again,”. Heavily influenced by her upbringing in Brooklyn and her desire to explore her creativity and yearn for exploring creativity, and enjoying life because “summer isn’t done yet.”
Blending retro soul keys with alternative R&B, Laila! layers her vocals to create a rich, textured sound, complemented by echoing synth guitars. Her self-produced album seamlessly blends genres, resulting in an experimental yet warm sound that evokes a carefree joy of summer. Through her creative approach, Laila! Explores the evolving sounds of Gen Z R&B, contemporary soul, and rap, bringing these influences together to create a fresh, genre-blending musical experience.