Iyla Elise Releases "Stringing Me Along"

Iyla Elise’s “Stringing Me Along” feels like it’s been simmering for decades. The track lands with a classic blues sensibility that immediately transported me to a dimly lit club, the kind where the air hangs heavy and time seems to stretch. From the first few bars, I could feel the sway of the groove. Those laid-back guitar fills and that unhurried rhythm section work together with a kind of quiet confidence. The brush work on the drums in particular stood out to me. It is subtle, but it gives the song an intimacy that pulls you in.

At the core of it all is Elise’s voice. Her delivery is soulful without ever feeling forced. There is a natural vibrato that gives her tone warmth and character, and she knows how to climb into the higher register without losing her footing. It is the kind of voice that can cut through a crowd, not with volume, but with presence. She leans into the phrasing in a way that suggests she has lived through what she is singing about, even if the pain is dressed in velvet.

What surprised me most about the song was how it builds without ever really exploding. There is a restraint here that works in its favor. Toward the end, the instrumentation drops down to just piano and vocals for a moment, giving the song some space to breathe. It never overplays its hand. Elise knows the power of holding back, and that makes the whole performance feel more controlled and affecting.

The lyrics felt grounded and relatable, but what really sold them was her delivery. It understands its lineage and settles into it comfortably, with just enough modern polish to feel fresh. There is no pretending here, no studio gloss trying to cover anything up. Just solid songwriting, a compelling voice, and a sound that feels timeless. I will be keeping an eye out for what Iyla Elise does next.

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