🎙️ THROWBACK | Lyia Meta – NEXT Is the Genre-Bending, Grammy-Worthy Leap We Were Waiting For
- Tamara Jenna
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
From jazz lounges to backwoods ballads—Lyia Meta’s transformation is in full bloom.
With NEXT, Malaysian singer-songwriter Lyia Meta steps into the boldest phase of her career. Released July 26, 2024, this genre-fluid, vocally radiant album is a turning point—a soulful evolution from the classic lounge-jazz tone of Always You to a multicoloured palette of Americana, contemporary soul, and narrative-rich songwriting.
“Building upon my past while exploring fresh interpretations…”
That’s how Lyia herself frames the record, and it couldn’t be more apt. Guided by a powerful creative team—Los Angeles lyricist Denise Dimin, producer Bob McGilpin, and co-producer Gene Rabbai—NEXT fuses smoky jazz ballads with Southern twang, showing off a vocal range that dances somewhere between Bonnie Raitt’s grit and Sade’s elegance.
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A surprising twist: folk meets fire.
“Home to You” was the first teaser to set ears alight—raw, twangy, and strikingly country in tone. The follow-up, “Easier and Easier,” stretches her voice in new directions, revealing unexpected vulnerability without losing the control that defines her performance style.
And yet, NEXT never sticks to one lane. “All My Loving” reels us back into late-night jazz pop, while other tracks hint at retro soul, soft rock, and torch-singer storytelling.
This isn’t just a new album—it’s a new Lyia Meta.
Known for her award-winning vocal finesse, Lyia uses NEXT to deepen her narrative power and flex a chameleonic ability to own any genre she steps into. With every note, she’s asking more from herself—and delivering more to her listeners.
This is the kind of album that catches the attention of Grammy panels. And rightly so.
Genre: Contemporary Pop, Jazz, Soul, Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary Soul
Mood: Bold, Reflective, Uplifting, Intimate
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