Singer-songwriter and producer Aylee has a knack for translating the snarled emotions of young adulthood into songs that are deeply personal while also widely recognizable. Its third release, "Slow Down," the latest single from her upcoming EP "An Existential Crisis," is nothing short of a soft gut punch.
"Slow Down" lingers in that delicate in-between where youth fades into adulthood, milestones feel tardy at best or M.I.A. entirely. Aylee leans into that push-pull with refreshing candor, pairing heartrending lyricism with sumptuous self-production that foregrounds her undiluted voice. The result is a song that plays less like a performance and more like an after-hours heart-to-heart with a friend who gets it.
What's touching about "Slow Down" is the mix of openness and quiet wit. Aylee taps into the universal pain of time marching forward as you're standing still, questioning whether you missed your opportunity somewhere. But far from despair, the song serves as a tender reminder. It's all right to move at your own pace, even in a world with little room for taking it slow.
"Slow Down" clocks another entry in Aylee's continued exploration of self-doubt and resilience, the messy beauty of growing up. She hones her voice as both artist and storyteller with each new delivery, and this single cements her status as a songwriter unafraid to sit in discomfort and make something utterly touching out of it. "Slow Down" is a reassurance for anyone who has ever felt behind that they're exactly where they need to be.
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