logo
Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Offline AmyJayneXoX  
#1 Posted : 06 July 2025 19:47:28(UTC)
AmyJayneXoX
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 22/02/2013(UTC)
Posts: 8,639
Woman
United Kingdom
Location: Ashford

Thanks: 4412 times
Was thanked: 4097 time(s) in 1396 post(s)
UserPostedImage

Title: Self Reflection
Length: 44:28
Genre(s): Pop, Synth-Pop, Alternative Pop, R&B, Drum & Bass
Label: Independent/Self-Released
Written By: Elyar Black, Adam Black
Produced By: Edwardo Lopez, Sebastian “Sebi” Ashmore, Daniel Hansel, Mark Franklin, Greg Devlin
Singles Released: New Perspective [#1], Better Than Me [#4], Psycho Love Game [#1]

“Self Reflection” is the long-awaited second studio album by American singer-songwriter Elyar Black. Work on the album began over 5 years ago when the 33 year-old was taking time away from the industry to focus and reflect on his life hence the title of the album. After a handful of now standalone singles which where released all the way back in 2019 which were lifted from his now scrapped original second studio album, Elyar burst back onto the scene in 2023 and has some of the biggest success in his career to date. The album was written primarily by the singer himself as the majority of the album is taken from personal moments within his life, a couple of the track however where written or co-written along with his older brother Adam Black. The album comprises a handful on genres and musical styles ranging from Pop to R&B all the way through to Drum & Bass and more synth-pop elements, it terms of musical styles for the majority of the album Elyar has stuck to his standards however this album sees the 33 year-old slow things down on a number of tracks with a more mellow tempo. It terms of production Elyar worked with a few of his close industry friends with the album being entirely produced at his home studio by Edwardo Lopez, Sebastian “Sebi” Ashmore, Daniel Hansel, Mark Franklin and Greg Devlin. From the fourteen tracks on the album to date three singles have been released from the album “New Perspective” which topped the charts for a number of weeks. “Better Than Me” which debuted and peaked at #4 and the most recent offering from the album came in the form of “Psycho Love Game” which ones again gave Elyar another #1 single.

Critical reception to the album has been mostly positive with many of the critics calling this the best work by far of his career with many noting that the raw and honest lyrics in many of the songs is a breath of fresh air from the usually mostly sexually charged content that Elyar has become known for over the years. Danny Blackmore wrote in his review. “This album is so raw and honest about aspects of his life and that is why the title of the album is fitting, in terms of sound it’s pretty standard Elyar but I do love that his slowed things down and really showcases that he actually has a damn decent voice. Overall I would give this album a solid 8/10.” Kylie Graham wrote in her four star review of the album. “This album has been in the making for years and it shows, it flows beautifully and clearly was made from the heart, my personal favourites are definitely “Ghost Of Yesterday” which showcases a much more slower tempo and “Back To The Start” which is short but catchy bop and I am always here for those, this is a fantastic work of art to add to his discography.” Francis Callus wrote in his review. “Okay overall this is his best body of work to date, my only gripe is two of the tracks nestle between all of these personal, raw songs there are the track mark Elyar tracks talking about sex, but other that the album is definitely up there as one of my favourite albums of the year so far.” Caroline Smith wrote in her review. “No offence to the boys of the Weekend who once signed Elyar to Five Pesky Kids but now as an independent artist woah his album is just on another level to anything Elyar has brought to the table before color me impressed and surprised, this album has been on repeat and not a single track has been skip or overlooked by me, top notch stuff.”

Elyar wrote:
Finally! After all these years and several changes and scrapping songs and writing new ones, Self Reflection is finally seeing the light of day. This album was equal parts exciting to make but also bitterly hard, this album is raw it’s honest and it really documents the years I spent away from the industry, of course there’s a couple of typical songs in there but they aren’t as in your face sexual, getting to wrote with my brother Adam was both amazing but also a pain in the ass because as a big brother he loves to try and annoy me but we managed to pull it together to write a few great tracks together, I hope you guys love the album and hopefully can relate to a lot of the lyrics within the album because I feel like a lot of my own personal struggles and failures in life can resonate with a lot of people. So here it is guys I present to you “Self Reflection!”


TRACKLIST:
1: New Perspective
2: Ghost Of Yesterday
3: Better Than Me
4: Back To The Start
5: Psycho Love Game
6: Wrong Reasons
7: Hard To Let Go
8: Funky, Sex, Magic
9: Better Than Your Ex
10: Cheated
11: 9 Inches Of Magic
12: Shouldn’t Have
13: Big Mistake
14: Playin’ Games

Edited by user 25 July 2025 22:23:01(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

UserPostedImage
thanks 5 users thanked AmyJayneXoX for this useful post.
BrownSugar on 07/07/2025(UTC), C4AJoh on 07/07/2025(UTC), 2001clay on 08/07/2025(UTC), FiveT on 10/07/2025(UTC), Head South Records on 25/07/2025(UTC)
Offline AmyJayneXoX  
#2 Posted : 25 July 2025 22:02:54(UTC)
AmyJayneXoX
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 22/02/2013(UTC)
Posts: 8,639
Woman
United Kingdom
Location: Ashford

Thanks: 4412 times
Was thanked: 4097 time(s) in 1396 post(s)
UserPostedImage

Title: New Perspective
Length: 3:31
Genre(s): Synth-Pop, Drum & Bass, R&B
Label: Independent/Self Released
Written By: Elyar Black
Produced By: Edwardo Lopez, Sebastian “Sebi” Ashmore
Taken From The Album: Self Reflection

”New Perspective” is the brand new single by American singer-songwriter Elyar Black, the song marks the singers first musical release since 2019’s ”Get Me (Naked)”. Following the release of his 2019 single the singer planned to release his second studio album ”Expectations” however his former label Five Pesky Kids Records seemingly pulled the plug on the release of the album for unknown reasons, following the pull of the album Elyar turned away from the spotlight to focus on raising his now 7 year-old son Nicolai “Nico” Black. However Elyar now makes his return to the spotlight after almost 5 years.

The track was written by the 31 year-old and reflects on his life and his past romantic on and off again relationship with fellow American singer-songwriter Lexi Marie Taylor. The track was produced by the production team of Edwardo Lopez and Sebastian “Sebi” Ashmore and has a total runtime of three minutes and thirty-one seconds. The song serves as the lead single from the singers second official album ”Self Reflection” which is rumoured to be released in 2024. The song incorporates elements of Synth-Pop, Drum & Bass and R&B marking a new sound direction for Elyar.

Critical reception from the song has been relatively positive. Nina Mauboy of Idolised said in her review. “He just drops this single out of nowhere and call me surprised it’s quite slick, clearly Black has gone away and come back with a more mature sound, energy and vibe I really dig this track”. Leslie Daniels wrote in her 7/10 review. “New music, new attitude, new Elyar, this song is quite mellow and impactful all at the same time, I do fear however that the song could fail to live up to expectations but it’s a solid comeback track.” Mason Fairchild of DigitalSpy wrote in his review. “I wasn’t expecting this track at all, definitely wasn’t expecting this entirely new sound from Elyar, but I must say it’s catchy enough to make some waves on the radio and for once his not singing about sex so that’s a positive in my eyes, solid effort.” Gina Daio of MusicSheet wrote a less favourable review in her review of the track. “Okay this isn’t what I was expecting, now I am not saying it’s terrible but I definitely don’t think this fits with what we have come to expect from the singer, the track seems a little out of place against the rest of his discography and back catalog but maybe that was the point, at least I hope it was.” Cameron Valdez of NME wrote in his review of which he gave the song a solid score of 85/100. “I must say I am surprised but also super intrigued by this single it’s totally different and it breaths a complete new direction and I am all for artists coming out with an unexpected new sound and style this could definitely be one of the best comebacks of the year easily, it’s so well written and the production slaps big time”.

Elyar wrote:
”Surprise, I am back! Honestly after the pulling of my album all those years ago I never thought I’d have the motivation, courage to release music again but it was actually my son he was like daddy you must sing and stuff and I couldn’t let the little fella down so I decided to have a self reflection of sorts hence the album title and put everything that’s happened in my life in the last 5 years or so down on paper and New Perspective is what came from it honestly the writing of this song was tough I had to relive parts of my life I have tried hard to forget but that is sometimes what makes the best lyrics come out and I couldn’t be happier with it and that’s why I chose it to be the lead from the album so I hope that my fans old and new enjoy it and support it because this album hasn’t been an easier journey at times for me, but I am so humbly grateful that my fans are still there and have been bugging me for years to release new music and finally I am ready to do just that!”


NEW PERSPECTIVE

I know it’s been a while
Time flies on by
But everything has changed
It’ll never ever be the same
I don’t even remember the bad days
But I don’t know if you’d still love me today
30 years of shame it’s time to make a change

Cos I got a new perspective on life now
Time for playing games is done
Just imagine what we could of become
But it doesn’t matter now
Perspectives changed, people change

Will you even remember my face
Changed my mind, body and soul
All you’ll remember is my face
Got a new demeanour and attitude
I only ever want to remember the good old days
Remember the days when I was a young, wild and free
Before you go saying you have heard it all before
Just look at my life the last few years
Living life in obscurity to cleanse my brain

Cos I got a new perspective on life now
Time for playing games is done
Just imagine what we could of become
But it doesn’t matter now
Perspectives changed, people change

Let’s refresh the mind
You say you have moved on
But I wonder if you’d even recognise me today
Life is now good for me
I hope you’re life had turned out the way you wanted
Made the dreams you had come true
I have new goals of my own
I have a new lease on life, time is right

Cos I got a new perspective on life now
Time for playing games is done
Just imagine what we could of become
But it doesn’t matter now
Perspectives changed, people change

Cos I got a new perspective on life now
Time for playing games is done
Just imagine what we could of become
But it doesn’t matter now
Perspectives changed, people change

SOUNDS LIKE:

UserPostedImage
thanks 3 users thanked AmyJayneXoX for this useful post.
BrownSugar on 25/07/2025(UTC), C4AJoh on 25/07/2025(UTC), Head South Records on 25/07/2025(UTC)
Offline AmyJayneXoX  
#3 Posted : 25 July 2025 22:22:20(UTC)
AmyJayneXoX
Rank: Advanced Member

Groups: Registered
Joined: 22/02/2013(UTC)
Posts: 8,639
Woman
United Kingdom
Location: Ashford

Thanks: 4412 times
Was thanked: 4097 time(s) in 1396 post(s)
UserPostedImage

Title: Ghost Of Yesterday
Genre(s): Pop, Synth-Pop
Length: 2:22
Written By: Elyar Black
Produced By: Greg Devlin, Mark Franklin

“Ghost Of Yesterday” is the second track out of fourteen on Elyar Black’s second studio album “Self Reflection”. The song has an overall pop sound and once again has a far more mid-tempo, chilled vibe despite its lyrical content. The track was written by the star himself and discusses how a girl has left such an impression that he feels like she is haunting him and can’t seem to shake her from his mind. Production was handled by Greg Devlin and Mark Franklin who have helped heavily with the overall sound and production of the entire album. The track has a total run time of only two minutes and twenty-two seconds making it a short but reflective track and fits with the overall vibe of the album.

Elyar wrote:
”So track two is Ghost Of Yesterday” this was a track that came about a few years ago back when I was in a fairly dark place in my life not only just mentally but physically and this track was just about my mind space at the time I honestly felt like all eyes where on me from not only my exs but the media also…so despite the fact it is talking about a girl in the lyrics in reality I felt like the whole world at the time was haunting me and I really was having restless nights wide awake. So here it guys this “Ghost Of Yesterday”


Ghost Of Yesterday

In the shadows of my mind you linger on
Ghost of our past where has the time gone
I hear your whispers late in the night
Can't shake the feeling something ain't right

Your laughter echoes through these empty halls
Faded memories painted on the walls
I try to run but you're always near
You've become my biggest fear

Haunted by the love we used to know
Everywhere I turn you seem to follow
Can't escape the ghost of yesterday
Haunted by the words we didn't say

Photos scattered like shards of broken dreams
Your touch still burns or so it seems
I see your face in every stranger's eyes
Wonder when this haunting dies

The clock keeps ticking but time stands still
Your phantom presence bends my will
Can't find peace in daylight or dawn
This haunted heart keeps holding on

Haunted by the love we used to know
Everywhere I turn you seem to follow
Can't escape the ghost of yesterday
Haunted by the words we didn't say

SOUNDS LIKE:
UserPostedImage
thanks 2 users thanked AmyJayneXoX for this useful post.
C4AJoh on 25/07/2025(UTC), Head South Records on 25/07/2025(UTC)
Users browsing this topic
Guest
Forum Jump  
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Powered by YAF.NET | YAF.NET © 2003-2025, Yet Another Forum.NET
This page was generated in 0.370 seconds.