Released: October 20, 2023

Genre: Hip-hop / Indie

From: UK

Label: Scenic Route

Why you should listen: London-based emcee and spoken-word artist Natty Wylah has come through with a short but sweet new EP titled WILLOWISP. The textured, rich and colourful production throughout the project is stunning and utterly mesmerising, handled predominantly by Finn Billingham. Natty Wylah is introspective and vulnerable, with lyrics that reflect his own state of mind, his every day observations about life, with potent imagery and emphatic instrumentation to complement his vision. “LOTUS FLOWER” is an example of this, with a rumbling, bass-heavy beat, and Natty’s incredible rapping and singing that give this track a dynamic and intense vibe that just hits hard. The rest of the EP is equally captivating and mesmerising. “LIDL TOKENS” has this atmospheric and airy production that feels like you’re floating among the clouds, and Natty Wylah’s inviting, smooth and soulful vocals adding to the colour of this beautiful sonic painting. The drumming on “MOTH WINGS” is incredible, with an unassuming groove that allows Natty to speak on his state of mind, saying that he’s “lulling in and out of purgatory”, trying to make sense of his emotions and the world around him. As the instrumental intensifies, so does Natty Wylah’s energy, as the track intensifies and explodes into something really mesmerising. “FB TRAP” has a similar high-intensity to it, with a pretty intense guitar-led intensity to it that is emphatic, while “SEMOLINA” concludes the album with some more groovy and melodic guitar leads, with Natty Wylah’s perspective and reflections on his own life and state of mind. It’s an emotive and beaufiful way to close the project out. Natty Wylah’s WILLOWISP EP is a warm and inviting body of work showcasing his talents as a wordsmith, singer and general vibe-setter.

The album: