Although Kayla Diamond’s latest single ‘Next Ex’ off her latest EP lifts off the ground with a gentle, nostalgic waving of strings, its prompt descent into a sassy, confrontational yet powerful tune that features the young artist soaring through her most driven, unapologetic heights showcases why this song could be a breakthrough for queer music, particular in the space of breakup blues.

Diamond has attributed the origin of the song to an insecure, jealous relationship in which her ex-girlfriend made her “feel trapped”, and so the first lines of the song---- does it bother you that I sing songs about my ex---establishes how she is hell-bent on restoring control through her tempestuous vocals. The beat speeds up and the fuzzy pop heart of the sound reveals itself. The heavy emphasis of each word in the first verse rings as a form of controlled rebellion against a former relationship, as echoes of her words whistle back at her in support. 

This ability to shift back and forth between a confessional, composed sound, the one that owns up to those regrets and wants to make peace with an old relationship, and the feisty, no-nonsense tone of a rock-steeped chorus that points to how she wants to fight for herself is what allows Diamond to expose dimensions of her voice through each intense note. Her goodbye does not only suffice for this particular failed relationship but it also speaks against a rather humdrum trend of queer heartbreak founded upon shame, blame, and loss. 

In terms of her distinct and arresting vocal ability, Diamond may invite comparisons to Demi Lovato’s first foray into mainstream pop, where her tendency to leap at those high notes against a background of soulful lyrics and a frisky beat made her quite the household name. Yet Diamond’s musical persona is set to carve its own place in the industry’s canvass; her recurring refrain goodbye reverberating throughout the entire song demonstrates why her songwriting prowess is one to watch for the future. 

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