The Brooklyn, New York native singer-songwriter, NAIMA, released her first EP, City Lights. She made her debut in the music scene in 2021 when she released her first two singles, “ThunderGO” and “City Lights.”
Both singles are featured on the R&B album, City Lights, with “ThunderGO” as track 5 and “City Lights,” featured as track 6. Listeners were instantly captivated by her tonality and ambiance in “City Lights” back in 2021 when the song was first released. The soft-spoken lyrics with Solange-like tonality speak about love, “So baby just stay here / If you want to / Cuz we just wanna feel alive /And baby have no fear / Cuz we’re still here / Could it be those city lights.” She told V Magazine in 2021 that the song is a love letter to New York City, where she was born and raised.
The two singles set the tone for her first album City Lights released in May 2024. Since the tone of the two singles lingers throughout the other seven tracks on the album, they all share a similar ambiance, however, each is distinctive in their own way. NAIMA played a significant role in the album’s production, overseeing it from start to finish which also shows her care and dedication as an artist. She also produced the album with producers Nick Hakim on eight tracks and Jon Nellen on one track.
“WannaGO” was produced by both NAIMA and Hakim. The ’80s inspired song speaks about desiring someone’s love, although it may hurt to be loved by them, it still feels healing to experience, “I wanna feel you n me / Because / The pain you give / The love you give is healing / But I wanna go with it.” The lyrics create a comfort song for those dealing with confusing love. Throughout the track, her echoey vocals create the dreamy ambiance of the song. The lyrics dance with the drums, mixed with the electric piano, creating a nostalgic ambiance of the ’80s.
As the album begins to conclude listeners will get to side B which features the last three tracks. The three tracks include “City Lights Piano Version,” where they get to experience the track with a slower tempo, the other two tracks are “WannaGO single version” and “ThunderGO single version.”
NAIMA curated her first album, City Lights with beautiful tonality in each song crafting a distinctive contemporary R&B album. The echoey vocals, relatable lyrics and ’80s inspired beats create a nostalgic ambiance that makes the album one-of-a-kind.
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