Rising neo-soul star Nia Wyn has released her second EP, Take A Seat. Following on from her debut 2020 collection Love I Can’t Run, the North Walian vocalist has delivered a new eight-track mix that once again demonstrates her ability to fuse pop, R&B, indie, jazz and soul elements. The latest track released from the EP – Don’t Rely On Me – encapsulates this sonic dexterity; landing somewhere between a Paloma Faith pop-ballad and Luther Vandross-esque slow jam, replete with a squidgy funk bassline. Wyn unveiled a new stripped-back video for Don’t Rely On Me on Friday.
The Take A Seat EP – a title chosen by Wyn as “a play on what receptionists of course say at mental health services when you have to sit in a waiting room” – refuses to shy away from challenging themes; from the political and social ruptures between millennials and older generations, to mental health and struggles with self-esteem. For example, of hip-hop-tinged track Muzzle – a collaboration with 2020 Glastonbury Emerging Prize winner R.A.E. which had previously been released as a single – Wyn told Conversations About Her “I wanted to represent that even if things are going well and you’re making progress, the impact of mental health issues and comparing yourself to others can lead to a lot of self-doubt.”
No stranger to a collaboration, the EP also sees the Llandudno product join forces with rapper and producer Aaron London on Imma Be Honest (another previous single release) and with compatriot Deyah – who recently scooped the Welsh Music Prize for her second album Care City – on Getting High. There’s also space on Take A Seat for Who Asked You; a track which will already be familiar to players of football video game FIFA 2021.
Wyn, a huge fan of the Wales and Manchester United women’s teams, told Clwb Pel-droed that she was thrilled to appear on the game soundtrack, which also features songs from the likes of Dua Lipa and Royal Blood. She said “It makes me feel proud that this particular track was the one that got on FIFA, as I wrote it about defiance in the face of those obstacles and the determination to succeed regardless. It’s about facing challenges such as rejection, the stigma around mental health issues and small-town mentality. I love that EA have facilitated my music to be exposed to a wider audience than I could have ever hoped for. I grew up playing FIFA on my brothers PS2 and beyond, and I always dreamed of having one of my tracks on there. It’s something off my bucket list.”
Early reviews for the EP have been glowingly positive. In their write-up, Earmilk called the new collection “A reflective piece of bliss“; adding that “…while Wyn’s musical trajectory continues to soar, her artistry is catapulting itself into the frontrunners of UK rising stars. And one question we’re still asking, why isn’t Nia Wyn a household name yet?” Meanwhile When The Horn Blows opined that: “With its clever social commentary and continuously changing sonic environment, the ‘Take A Seat’ EP represents everything that makes Nia Wyn stand out as an exceptionally talented artist that should be on everyone’s radar.“
