Liyah Katana is a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Not too long ago, she released a visually appealing music video for her “STR8” single.
Liyah Katana – “STR8” (Official Video)
“I know that it’s nobody’s fault I should blame myself. If I had to choose between you and myself… Got to leave you where you’re at, gotta go, baby. Gonna fix what you did, you gotta know, babe. Must be crazy to think you’re my only one. Falling out of love with the things you’ve done.” – lyrics
Liyah wrote “STR8” when a once budding relationship she was involved in didn’t materialize correctly. Not wanting to compromise, she got sick and tired of the games her ex-partner played. In the lyrics, she speaks to her future self about having a more positive mindset than she currently possesses. “All those nights I would make excuses, try to make sense of all your lies, and I know that it’s nobody’s fault except myself,” she sings passionately over a piano-laden melody that swells with the weight of her raw emotions.
Furthermore, “STR8” will be featured on Liyah Katana’s upcoming EP, entitled, “8.” The project will dig deep into rich themes that Liyah spent so much time thinking about the multifaceted journeys of relationships and learning to find your strength outside of love.
“I don’t think we can make it up.”
Liyah Katana is the newest artist signed to Nycesound/ARTium Records—acclaimed hip-hop and R&B producer No I.D.’s record label—and Def Jam Recordings. Liyah, who already understands a lot about love, utilizes her personal experiences with the feeling (whether it be romantic or self-love) to create songs wrapped in sensuous vocals and melodies that call back to R&B’s ’00s heyday.
Her emotive nature was born in the church, where she was part of a praise group in her hometown. Through her parents, she discovered legendary R&B and hip-hop acts like Michael Jackson, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild, Jay-Z, Nas, DMX, and Mobb Deep. At age 12, Liyah began experimenting by recording covers of songs by Little Mix, Demi Lovato, and Adele. She cites Whitney Houston, Brandy, Kendrick Lamar (whose 2015 album “To Pimp a Butterfly” inspired her to become an artist), and Rihanna among her influences.
Liyah Katana – “STR8” single
When the pandemic began in 2020, Liyah used her free time from school to practice songwriting by putting her lyrics to beats she found on YouTube. That November, she had a meeting with Terry “T-Nyce” Opoku, founder of the Canadian independent record label, Nycesound Production, and soon signed with the label.
In 2021, Liyah released her debut EP, “Forevaliyah,” which showcased a progression of her confidence and the bliss of falling in love for the first time. Forevaliyah landed her on Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Best R&B playlists, which eventually led to Liyah performing at festivals in Ontario and New York City.
We recommend adding Liyah Katana’s “STR8” single to your favorite contemporary R&B playlist. Also, let us know how you feel in the comment section below. Mel Blanc’s famous catchphrase, That’s All Folks! Thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment – the hot spot for new music and entertainment news. Always remember that (P) Positive, (E) Energy, (A) Always, (C) Creates, (E) Elevation (P.E.A.C.E). Contact us on social media via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, and let us know what’s going on. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter, purchase our merchandise, and become a Patron of Bong Mines Entertainment. Disclaimer: This post contains Apple Music affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link on this page, we will collect a small share of the sales. That tiny compensation will be used towards keeping this website up and running.