Release date: April 28, 2023
Links
TL;DR: Acoustic R&B swoops in with a flourish on Adeni's debut single "Leavin'".
It's exceptionally difficult for young and/or new artists to make it in today's music industry because of how many starry-eyed talented youngsters are available. A shoestring budget leads to limited expenses and a perception that some work is lower quality. However, with Adeni (known in opera as Alanna Denise) on "Leavin'", the result is not only an exceptional debut single, but a strong contender for my December winner of 2023 Song of the Year.
I discovered Adeni through social media, specifically tiktok, and she showed a versatility of talent that is truly a rarity in today's music. Her ear for production is immediately apparent. This track is mid-tempo acoustic R&B goodness, with a simple yet powerful foundation establishing a carefree atmosphere. Although the narrator is sad to see this relationship end, they also have accepted already that it needed to end and that they cannot grow without moving forward. This is a sound that I think more modern music should have, one led by real instruments.
Adeni's vocals are phenomenal, and she shows off lower range on the verses with dips into "you deserve better" and "like forever" very pleasing choices in the moment. However, less than half a verse later, she is launching into upper mid ranges. By the end, she bumps it up at least one octave for the closing chorus, perhaps an unsurprising choice given her opera career. She reminds me somewhat of Alicia Keys stylistically, and she has natural charisma that few artists can pair with technical skills like this. This is probably the best vocal I've heard all year, and on a debut, the value of that cannot be understated.
The songwriting is poignant and relatable, as the narrator realizes her relationship with a man she loves and who treats her well is nonetheless leaving her lacking. Female empowerment is a track discussed often in music and entertainment, but this song actually pulls it off unintentionally by displaying a confident woman who may not like every choice she has to make, but ultimately knows she must for her good and others. Rarely has a breakup song from the person who leaves been compelling enough to cause anyone to empathize, but here it absolutely is.
Adeni struck gold with "Leavin'", and she will be rewarded for it. She needs more than the absurdly low 8 monthly listeners she has on Spotify right now.
Score: 9/10 (contender for SOTY 2023)