Amanda Holley – No More
Amanda Holley's 'No More' is a stunning neo-soul anthem, five octaves of raw healing wrapped in a stunning, vibe-filled velvet production
Amanda Holley opens 'No More' with a voice that knows exactly where it has been. The track moves through desire, defiance and something harder to name, a spiritual intimacy that refuses to settle for less. The production never crowds it: Alvin Anthony and RG keep things stripped back enough that Holley's vocal stays at the centre, moving from whisper to declaration without losing control. It's also just really, really groovy and I love the repeated refrain as it becomes a moment of release. Stunning contemporary R&B, vulnerable and defiant in equal measure.
Holley is a Newark native, biracial Black American, a self-taught violinist from age two who has been performing live since she was seven. Her mother trained at Manhattan School of Music, her estranged father wrote for Sarah Vaughan, and her aunt Pat Holley discovered and co-managed Stephanie Mills. A Recording Academy GRAMMY Voting Member, she has played Coachella, Carnegie Hall, Birdland and the United Nations. 'No More' is the latest chapter from her upcoming EP, The HolleyGraphic. This one deserves to travel far.