Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Safiya – Let’s Pretend (2021)

With her debut single ‘Let’s Pretend’, Safiya is really setting the bar quite high. Bringing youthful energy and soul to jazzy tones, she fills your senses with a fusion sound. Working with her co-composer Tynicfly, they breathe a new life to a single that Safiya has performed at various festivals and venues over the years.

For her debut release, Safiya went to great lengths to ensure the production was smooth and every element crafted to perfection. This has allowed the passion both have to shine through the music and captivate your senses. With a masterful blending of instrumentation, they have achieved an organic, authentic and spontaneous sound that seeps into your soul and leaves trails of wonderful energy in its wake.



‘Let’s Pretend’ draws you in with a deep groovy bass that thrums through your chest before the shimmering percussion sparkles over it. The horns add a warmth to the music that is soft in its soulful glory. There is an edge of jazz to the music that is away with soul sensibilities. When the piano enters, the pace picks up and your head will move to the rhythm. The soft soulful vibes weave between the more lively notes that would not be amiss at a big jazz festival. The combination of soul and jazz is impeccable creating the most delightful fusion that you can’t help but smile to.

As the melody brings a fresh fusion of sound, Safiya’s vocals are a smoky tendril of beckoning warmth. Her voice carries all the soul of the melody while her delivery has a bounce of jazz. Her performance is beautiful as it swirls through your senses and rugs you into the story of the lyrics. There is a touch of Sade to her performance but her youthful and contemporary energy brings a new edge that is completely unique to her.

Safiya and Tynicfly fuse soul and jazz together for the fresh tones, youthful energy and unforgettable flows of ‘Let’s Pretend’. The melody has you swaying to the rhythm while transporting you to jazz festivals. Safiya’s vocals continue the merging of tones while softly powering through your senses and hooking her claws into your brain.

Find out more about Safiya on her website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

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