Young talent Vienna I gets loud and personal in her latest single, "The way it was," giving a raw snapshot of pain, growth, and survival. Tinged with grime and gangsta rap, but essentially formatted in drill, it's a lot more lived than listened to. Vienna I is no newcomer here. London & Essex border-town artist is no stranger to the game, having started writing songs at eleven and stacking up over 50 originals by age thirteen. "The way it was" comes in a raw, deliberate, and uncompromising fashion.
The track cultivates around a brooding drill beat with ominous, deep bass drops and glitchy rhythms, allowing Vienna I's vocals to take the helm. Her flow is razor sharp, slicing through the beat. Vienna I is remarkable for her ease. For all its drill-grime posturing, she sings with the hard-fought experience and dynamism of an R&B-rap singer, ensuring to convey her insight through a display of emotional intensity. It's a rare balance, and "The way it was" shows she isn't confined to any one lane.
With millions of users already interacting with the work of artists like Vienna I on the web, this is a route that she acknowledges would be easy to pursue. And yet, this track demonstrates that she is here for substance and not a fleeting trend. She is not only carving a place in the industry for herself, but also creating a voice with "The way it was," which is one powerful statement. Vienna I is a testament to losing ourselves to find something with every beat. Vienna I cries out in the face of truth, even when it hurts most.
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