Taking The Reins: Shye Shows Bold Pop Panache In Self-Produced Offering “not rly”

Shye is in full control of her latest single, “not rly” (Credit: Christopher Sim)

Busting through the tracks of the indie-pop circuit like a freight train, the thrust of singer-producer, Shye, is as impactful as ever. Just half a year after her debut full-length, days to morning glory, the 19-year-old starlet has unveiled a new offering that exhibits her DIY prowess and discerning experimentation. “not rly” sees the rocketing act take the reins on writing, recording, producing and mixing duties. With the success of her debut and her surging reputation, you’d think she’d entertain the glut of collaborators knocking on her door. Yet, Shye remains firmly independent in this new single, with no layer in her processes going amiss.

Through the years, the bedroom artiste has perceptibly sharpened her vocals, and it seamlessly becomes the star of “not rly”. She shows off her capabilities carefreely – slithering between groggy slurs and precise trills, bouncing between low and high octaves, and playing with timbres as she channels everything from coyness to moxie. Her frivolous play with rhythms and use of repeated phrases even shows an acute awareness of hook formulation, revealing her ongoing maturity as an effective songwriter.

Beneath her vocal performance lies a solid production stratum with equally complex textures. Propelling forward with a choppy, gravelly breakbeat, the instrumentation features accents such as exotic electric strings, low brassy blares and woody claves-esque percussions. While the bulk of the track presents a feisty disposition, it manages to surprise with a cloying bridge section that changes the demeanour abruptly with minor, jazzy piano chords. It’s the kind of swerve you won’t expect one bit, but it’s convincing proof that Shye’s building up her courage as a producer, and is having fun while she’s at it.

“I do also hope that the message of the song resonates with listeners and hopefully it encourages others to love and respect themselves more.” – Shye (Credit: Christopher Sim)

“I think we all have insecurities and sometimes we let them get the better of us when we turn a blind eye to red flags and put others on a pedestal,” Shye explains the concept of the piece in her press release. “The song is about waking up to know your own name and what it stands for. With every release, it is my hope that it shows some kind of growth. It may be a little different from what I’ve put out before but I do enjoy pushing the envelope.”

To discover more about Shye’s growth, read our insightful interview with her.

Listen to “not rly” by Shye out now on Spotify. Visit her Instagram channel to stay updated with her activities.