A dreamy, soulful captivation shows on “So Convincing,” a new single from Houston-based songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Ezliyah. She describes the release as “about the internal conflict of projecting happiness and the difficult truth of losing yourself along the way.”
Its thematic pursuits of social anxiety and personal identity are emitted with poetic lyrical prowess — melding with a lush, hypnotic range of jangling guitars, gentle rhythmic pit-pattering, and harmonious backing vocal deepness. The track marks the first of several forthcoming single projects from Ezliyah, who sees it “as the preface to the next chapter” of her artistry.
A spacious, nighttime-set soundscape proves alluring as the smoothly absorbing vocal presence emerges. “So convincing / Made you think I’m winning,” her vocals let out, underscoring the disconnect between appearance and reality. Insecurity and doubt flow in questions within — “do I brave this? will I know when it’s time?” — as a resonating tonal expanse takes hold in the final minute. There, more prominent percussion aligns with a soaring electric guitar solo, playing with powerful atmospheric vigor as the vocals take a temporary reprieve.
A final vocal push — “so convincing, made me think I’m falling” — concludes the production with chilly, mystique-filled finality. “So Convincing” is a standout success from Ezliyah, who bridges personal experiences — here, as an 18-year-old college student studying in NYC and finding her way — with a melodic, moody enthrallment.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
