Singer Daya explores the physical sensations of falling in love with her new single ‘First Time’. The 21-year-old single from Pennsylvania had stolen our hearts a couple of years back; her scintillating singles at the time showcased youthful vigour and a thoughtful maturity, an irresistible combination that was sure to put her name in our radars for good. However, following the release of her debut studio album Sit Still, Look Pretty, she’s been fairly quiet with a few singles here and there but no word of a second album. The latest entry, however, is widely associated with talk of a second album, and her core of fans couldn’t have asked for a better single. 

What can be inferred from the get-go of ‘First Time’ is that Daya is confident enough to venture from her comfort zone and incorporate a range of beats to strengthen the tempo of the single. An infectious upbeat carries the melody of the song; the percussion is simple but quite hypnotic, with the xylophone infusing an exotic groove into the proceedings. The vocals from Daya are just enticing enough to keep you moving; she doesn’t play around with any high notes or runs. The lyrics detail the sensational responses accompanying the feeling of falling in love for the first time. Though there’s nothing quite explicit in the lyrics, there’s a heightened sense of urgency, need, and pure lust — indicating Daya can dabble in seductive styles of music without losing her Gen Z relatability. 

The composition doesn’t contain too many surprises but the second verse does have some fairly noticeable chords on the electric guitar, allowing the production to be more layered and complex as a result. It’s a really low-key track that does show its artist taking some sizeable risks, meaning fans should prepare for more daring productions from the upcoming second album. 

Speaking to Billboard, the singer said that a new relationship has been driving some of the compositions in her latest album. She said, “Once you experience something in real life, something as big as a relationship, you’re like, well, this changes everything that I feel about everything. So then you start from square one.”

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.