Brand new single from Layla Kaylif

Based in London, English-Arab singer-songwriter Layla Kaylif has spent her career following her own creative compass wherever it points. Over the years, she’s delivered a catalogue that glides between cultures, musical traditions and emotional landscapes and whether drawing from classic pop, Americana or more globally influenced sounds, her music has always reflected an adventurous artistic vision. Across more than two decades, she’s continued to reshape and reimagine her creative identity while maintaining a songwriting voice influenced by atmosphere, poetry and emotional openness.

Her journey first gathered international attention in 1999 with “Shakespeare in Love,” the breakthrough single from her debut album Enough Rope. Travelling across Asia and beyond, won over listeners and marked the arrival of an artist capable of pairing memorable melodies with thoughtful lyricism. Even at that early stage, Layla’s music hinted at the qualities that would continue to be present in her work, offering songs that felt intimate in their storytelling while connecting beyond their personal origins.

Her 2020 album Lovers Don’t Meet ventured into Americana-inspired arrangements, revealing another side of her songwriting while maintaining the emotional impact that runs throughout her work. More recently, she’s returned to a more atmospheric sonic landscape with releases including “God’s Keeper” reconnecting with the pop stylings of her earlier material while introducing subtle Middle Eastern influences while her interpretation of David Bowie and Brian Eno’s “I’m Afraid of Americans” illustrated her ability to approach familiar material through an entirely personal creative perspective.

That same context of reinvention now shapes her latest release titled “Black Is the Colour,” a song which sees Layla reshape a traditional folk ballad into something entirely her own. By applying original lyrics to the centuries-old composition, she preserves its enduring themes of longing, separation and devotion while opening new emotional pathways through her writing. In doing so, she allows the song to take on a new form in the modern era, creating a meeting point between inherited tradition and contemporary songwriting.

Recorded at London’s renowned Air Studios and produced by Rupert Coulson, the single pairs a traditional style with a more current folk rock arrangement. Jumping straight into a shuffling groove where the patter of drums and strums of acoustic guitar are led by a dancing synth lead before Layla’s expressive voice enters to stitch bright melodies and picture painting lyricism into the rhythmic backdrop. Alluring backing vocal layers underpin her compelling leads, casting an immersive listening experience that’s catchy and energising while rolling into a stunning chorus cut with impassioned vocal delivery and rousing instrumentation.

Flowing with fluttering synth flashes and elegant strings, with her version of the song, Layla Kaylif completely transforms a classic piece of enduring music into a dazzling new musical experience. Propelled by subtly gritty rock energy, her voice soars above the invigorating arrangement to cast a truly spellbinding listening experience from start to finish. It’s a spectacular showcase of her performance talent as well as her knack for reframing music in exciting new ways.

Commenting on the release, she offers, “Folk songs survive because each generation finds a way to make them their own. Black Is The Colour has travelled across centuries and continents. I wanted to enter into conversation with that tradition rather than simply recreate it.”

Listen to Black Is The Colour below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---