YAZ LEÓN’S '4TH WALL' TAKES LISTENERS ON A PSYCHEDELIC R&B JOURNEY THROUGH IDENTITY AND SELF-GROWTH

With moody R&B on the rise in the UK it’s experimental up-and-comers like Spanish-Iraqi artist Yaz León, and her newest single ‘4th Wall’, that will prick the ears of any R&B lover. 

The West-London-hailing artist first began forging her style through her versatile sonics, boasting playful production and expansive influences from jazz percussion, neo-soul, hip-hop, indie and pop. León first showcased her eclectic production in 2020, having released a string of singles and a debut EP since then. She has delicately penned her life experiences in every track, exploring complex topics and more recently delving into the intricacies of self-growth and identity. 

Leon’s most recent single ‘4th Wall’ with Nigerian-Irish artist BUKKY, explores these nuances on a gloomy, psychedelic trip-hop backdrop. Both musician's ethereal-tinged vocals are intertwined throughout the track and its spirited bassline, ultimately taking a series of sonic twists in the form of a distorted guitar riff, frenetic drum pattern and distant wind instrument sprinkled into the track's outro. ‘4th wall’ sweeps you up in the vivid performance of its two vocalists, and adding to its dream-like soundscape León accompanies the track with a moody visual of a car ride at dusk. 

“4th wall is kind of a ‘hater’ and a “help I’m spiraling” song … It’s got a lot of nods to my Muslim and Catholic upbringing and my (hefty) phases of disillusionment with organised religions. That’s what me and Bukky bonded on. It’s fair to question the authenticity of support and trust in some of these spaces. I think that’s partly because pride is shown so transactionally in mainstream culture, and there’s so much traditionalism lurking in the corners”

With every release Leon has been showcasing a little bit more of herself and her rolling sound, providing us with taste of what’s yet to arrive from her forthcoming EP.