Greetings all my cherished readers and music lovers let’s welcome Lyia Meta. Lyia Meta, a talented Malaysian singer-songwriter, has returned with a new album that will undoubtedly receive as much praise as her highly acclaimed, multi-award-winning 2023 album “Always You”. Meta a superb vocalist whose voice is a cross between Cher, Bonnie Raitt, Sade, and Linda Ronstadt, released a 7 song album called “Next” on July 26 and the album represents Lydia and her partners in music’s next stage. Let’s talk more about the album

The album’s title track is called “All My Loving”. The song is a jazz-infused song with vibrant trumpets heard in the beginning. The song presents a character who is leaving his lover behind so she leans in to kiss him goodbye (” Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you”). She then tells him to look forward to letters from her, letters through which she sends all her love to him(” I’ll write every day and I’ll send all my love to you”). The song’s vibe is unbeatable (the very amazing trumpet and saxophone solo)and Meta’s voice is sultry and beautiful the fantastic song opens up the album

“Easier and easier” is the title of the next song. The song opens with another beautiful jazz sound The song describes a character who tells the person she’s romantically involved with that each time he leaves her or ends the relationship it gets easier (”each time you leave it gets easier and easier to let you go even though I know it’s tough all alone”). The song debunks the saying that goes “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. The character has decided to be tough and although she misses him she has decided to break the cycle of toxicity. Meta gives a remarkable vocal performance and there is another saxophone solo. The structure of the instrumentation and vocals will captivate you throughout the song

“I’ll Look Behind” is the song that follows. This particular song opens with a beautiful trumpet sound. The song is a picture where a couple is ending their relationship because the relationship was broken beyond repair and they were just preventing the inevitable, trying to delay their breakup(”we’re just wasting time”). Before they finally part ways she tells him that after there’s been time to heal maybe she will suggest that they give the relationship another try (I’ll change my mind, I’ll look behind”). Musically, the song is a lively jazz-infused song with sax and trumpet taking the forefront of the song. You will fall In love with this wonderful melody and put it on repeat

Next is the song called “Melancholy Blue”. This song’s intro is a majestic fusion of sounds as Meta sings about a broken relationship. She describes her broken relationship through colors, where the bright colors meant the relationship was fine but when the relationship broke, he turned all those beautiful and bright colors into a sad sad blue. Imagine the “sad” character in Disney’s Inside Out movie and you can understand what the colors mean or know what she is talking about (”turning colors into melancholy blue”). Musically, this song is a tad slower but the snazzy and cool vibes remain and there is this trumpet solo that you should really look forward to. The song is emotive and will take you on a very emotional musical journey

Next is the song “Ease Away Slowly”. The song’s intro is quite short before Meta begins her beautiful vocal performance. We meet the persona in the song who is getting ready to let someone go or lose someone(” Ease away slowly because I really don’t want you to go”). She asks this person to leave slowly because she can’t the pain if he or she leaves suddenly and tries to follow him or her or stop him or her. Now this song might be talking about death or breaking up in a relationship but either way, both situations are hard enough, and leaving slowly might help to let go bit by bit. The vocals are tender and the song is delightful despite its morose message

Next is the song “Home to You”. This is yet another jazz-infused song about a character who plans to mend a long-distance relationship and the difficulties when she finally returns home to her partner (”when I come home to you and bridge the gap that I had put between us”). She believes that their love will be restored completely when she comes home to her partner(”love will be renewed fresh as morning dew”). The song is relatable and discusses the difficulty and hard truths of long-distance relationships that most people don’t want to talk about. The instrumentation is a little subtle so you can hear Meta very clearly and appreciate it more intimately

The last song on the album is “Thinkin’ Blues”. The song has a nice intro that will delight you. The song describes a persona who is in denial about her love for another(”I’m sitting here thinking about you and the things I have to do to convince myself that I don’t love you”). What comes to mind is the part in Disney’s Hercules when Meg sings about how she won’t admit she’s in love. The persona explains how the person hurt her but her heart still loves him. The song is very lovely and the trumpet solo was just amazing. This song ends this album perfectly

Building on her previous work while exploring new interpretations and emotional depths, this album is more than just a continuation, but also a monument to change and progression in Meta’s musical career. “NEXT”, guided by her beautiful voice, is the serendipitous result of the various factors that have brought her to this critical moment. Together with her collaborator, Los Angeles songwriter Denise Dimin, and her fantastic team, producer Bob McGilpin, and co-producer Gene Rabbai, She confidently embarks on her chapter, eager to embrace new opportunities and share her changing tale with the world.

Stream the “Next” album on Spotify and SoundCloud

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