Ella Mai first experienced a taste of the spotlight as part of her trio Arize on the 11th season of the X Factor. The band didn’t last long after their 2014 dash with fame, but it gave a good platform for Ella Mai to build her reputation from. Now with a string of releases behind her, she is building a strong following of loyal fans. 

With a title of ‘This is’, we are left guessing what Ella Mai has themed her song on, is this a song of power, sorrow or joy? It becomes quite clear early in the song, that ‘This is’ refers to all the things that represent true love. From the feeling inside, the way we communicate and show appreciation to each other and the feelings inside. So we are taken on an innocent ride of emotion on the discovery of finding our true life partner. 

The one instrument that stands out in this track is the piano. Playing a straightforward chord progression, it is the backbone that all the complex vocal fits over. There is also a high in the mix synthetic bass that really hits you when we first hear it. This combined with backing synths and overdubbed vocals is quite a sound to listen to. Ella Mai has a powerful voice that has been tweaked a little in places to give it the final polished touch, but the overall effect is one of harmony that portrays a positive message to the song.

Author: Phil Arnold

Phil Arnold is a musician, producer and music reviewer from Devon, in the South West of England. Whilst not writing music reviews, Phil also writes and records under the name of Ugbrooke.