Up and coming artist Mahalia has been releasing music for a while now, but her latest single What You Did feat. Ella Mai has touched the top of the mainstream, playing on radio stations globally. So exactly what did these ladies do? And should they do it again?
THE SOUND
If you're missing the R&B of the early 2000s and skating at the Rink, this is a song that will take down memory lane. The song samples the hit Oh Boy by Cam'Ron and Juelz Santana, and the execution is perfect. A great sample turns the original song into a song of its own and Mahalia has done just this; she's dominated a boys rap track and turned it into something for the ladies. Her sound is soft and the tune is familiar, but it becomes catchy in a different way. This is one of the most successful samples as it was executed amazingly; you almost never get tired of listening to it. The sound earns a 10/10 on the Intersect 1-10 rating scale.
THE SINGING
Ella Mai and Mahalia are not powerhouse vocalists; their sound errs on the side of caution and is very vanilla. This track is no different. Their voices carry different tones, though they both are from the UK. Their voices give you what you want from a popular song but not more. Nothing impressive is happening in terms of vocals, but that doesn't take away from the blend of their voices and a clean catchy finished product. The singing on this single earns a 6/10 on the Intersect 1-10 rating scale.
THE ART BEHIND THE SINGLE
What You Did tells the story of a young woman scorned by love. She was betrayed by a cheating lover but stands her ground in saying she can’t stay in the relationship. A simple story everyone has heard before, yes I know but, the solidarity shown on the album cover, with Mahalia and Ella Mai standing beside each other projects confidence and connects with the meaning behind this song. This song is about having enough confidence to take a perspective of understanding and acceptance. Girl power in the form of a bop? The art behind this album earns an 8/10 on Intersect Rating Scale.
IF YOU LIKE THIS SONG YOU SHOULD ALSO LISTEN TO:
If you are interested in more Mahalia, check out her singles Grateful & Sober.
If you want to hear more of Ella Mai, check out her self titled album Ella Mai.
Overall, the single is a great catchy tune you'll never get tired of. Nothing dynamic is happening musical, but the sample is clean and seamless; the single earns an 8/10 on the Intersect Rating Scale.
Listen to the single below.
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