Released: July 21, 2022
Links
Ayah Abdul's Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ayahabdul13?_t=8Uh4nIVRtLW&_r=1
"Addiction" on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FeuBMj-Y4y0
TL;DR: This song is interesting, quirky, and short: in other words, a perfect debut single.
Ayah Abdul is a new R&B/pop artist who grabbed my attention with her Tiktok account. Her voice, in particular, was what drew me to her music: subtle, big range, and very easy on the ears. On her debut track, she shows off her vocal skill and songwriting talent a little, and the result is an enjoyable listen.
Let's start with the production. The song is a mid-tempo ballad framed around a thumping bass line, which sets some serious atmosphere, and percussion. Occasional stabs of piano and (I think) acoustic guitar contribute further to the slightly unsettled feel of the song. While I honestly would have preferred a slightly fuller sound, this is a solid all-around mix.
Circling back to Abdul's vocals, she turns in a really strong effort here. I really like her lower range: while it doesn't get a ton of airtime here (you hear it at the first "replay on replay"), it's by far the most powerful part of her vocals. However, she maintains her pleasant tone easily on the higher parts of the song, and while this isn't the most technically demanding track, it certainly isn't easy either. The vocals are definitely the highlight here.
The lyrics are a bit mysterious: the narrator is "looking for something that I could get addicted to", which seems strange on the surface. Addiction, after all, is not exactly a positive thing, However, a closer examination seems to reveal that the addiction Abdul's narrator is referring to isn't to a substance, but to the rush of a relationship. There's enough tension, though ("you gotta go now, but I'mma let you in") to make the listener wonder if this proverbial addiction might not be unhealthy either. If nothing else, the writing is subtle and thought-provoking.
This song might not be for everyone, but it went in my regular rotation immediately. It's an impressive debut effort for Abdul.
Score: 7.5/10 (wildly underrated only because it's a debut single)