C alming melodies that soothe the mind and tranquil lyrics define the music of Chicago-based R&B/Soul singer-songwriter Ley Soul. As a college student, she redefines neo-soul by drawing inspiration from artists such as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and Kadhja Bonet. Her jazzy voice and dreamy ballads create an out-of-body experience.
Although her discography consists of only five tracks, her unique music style offers a refreshing experience for neo-soul listeners and makes each song memorable. Soul’s distinctive production style and creativity bring her songs to life, reflecting her deep appreciation for and study of 90s neo-soul influences. Despite the challenges of replicating this sound, she does it effortlessly. Her debut track, “Save Your Love,” was released in June 2023 exclusively on YouTube and has garnered over 101,000 views.
Following the release of her first single, Soul achieved her first big hit in November 2023 with “Intergalactic Janet.” The song gained traction on TikTok, gaining attention for its beautiful melodies and spacey instrumentation. According to Genius, the song was inspired by space: “Ley Soul created this song about a galaxy woman who lives in space. She was inspired by the stars outside her window as well as the sound of Erykah Badu. It was created in her dorm room over the span of many weeks.” Her deep vocals and soothing high notes throughout the track showcase her powerful voice at just 19 years old. “Intergalactic Janet” has now amassed over 36.5 million streams on Spotify, making it her most popular song.
Soul built on the success of “Intergalactic Janet” by releasing “Fortune Eyes” in April 2024, which further showcases her evolving musical style and evocative lyrics. She then released “Into Sands” in September 2024. She followed up in November 2024 with her alternative track “Fly Away,” demonstrating her ability to blend genres like soul and alternative to create an ethereal sound.
Each of these tracks highlights Soul’s artistic journey and her commitment to delivering powerful music, continuing the momentum established by her previous hits. Although she hasn’t released a track since November 2024, the anticipation for new music remains high, as each song in her discography has offered a different glimpse of her talent.
Over the past two years, Soul has built a substantial audience, amassing over 1.2 million listeners on Spotify. As she continues to innovate and evolve her musical style, she is poised to make an even greater impact on the music scene in the coming years. Her talent and dedication indicate that she is just at the beginning of a promising and successful career. We’ll just have to see what Soul graces us with next and hopefully new music is on the horizon.
