ALBUM REVIEW: NYAH GRACE - DIVINELY DEVOTED (20/06/25)
Nyah Grace’s Divinely Devoted out today via Palawan Productions is a sultry, emotionally rich R&B journey through the complexities of human experience - a sophomore album that both deepens her artistry and broadens her sonic palette.
With this second record, Nyah Grace takes a bold creative turn, unveiling a tailored blend of smoky, sassy, and deeply personal neo-soul and R&B across 10 finely crafted tracks, marking a confident evolution from her acclaimed debut, Honey-Coloured, which showcased Grace’s emergence as a rising force in neo-soul. Running a tight 31 minutes, the album feels both intimate and immediate, with its stripped-back production spotlighting the raw elegance of Nyah’s sensuous vocal delivery.
Opening with the soul-infused ‘Back of the Cab’, Grace tells the story of a slightly tipsy, tearful woman confiding in her Uber driver, pouring out the details of a rough night she’s just endured. The following track ‘Obvious’ provides a more groovy, upbeat sound.
‘Down’ is a soulful, swaggering gospel-infused track that delves into the heartache and turbulence of relationship blues. Grace’s soulful vocals take center stage, joined by a chorus of gospel voices that add depth and warmth.
The next track ‘Fall Into You’ is beautiful and eerie, enriched by a voicemail from Grace’s mother serving as reassuring maternal advice and supported by harmonies from the vocalist.
On the slow-burn R&B ‘I Know’, Grace explores the depths of her voice with low chops over an atmospheric guitar, showcasing an impressive vocal range.
Grace’s honeyed vocals float effortlessly over slinky guitar chords and a hypnotic bassline on ‘Only Mine’, whilst lyrically capturing the subtle intricacies of the human experience. With a sparse production aesthetic that gives her sumptuous voice space to breathe, the track lands somewhere between Kali Uchis and Pip Millett - soulful, intimate, and quietly magnetic.
Production by De’Jour Thomas (known for working with Chlöe, Fousheé, and Monaleo) throughout the record is both intimate and cinematic. Her sound draws inspiration from the likes of Sade, Mahalia, and Lauryn Hill.
‘Without Me’ unfolds as a heartfelt piece, stripped back to just Grace’s voice and the delicate strum of a guitar.
‘Aphrodite’ delivers heartfelt lyrics layered over silky grooves, subtly supported by a gentle electric guitar. It is raw, honest, much like the rest of the record - our favourite track so far.
‘Seventeen’ offers a more stripped-down, sultry sound, over sorrowful piano and deep, authentic vocals, with violin strains gently emerging as the song draws to a close. Another stunning track that would truly come alive in a live setting.
The album closes with the groovy ‘I Can’t Love You’, where modern R&B meets classic soul, backed by more gospel-infused harmonies.
Divinely Devoted not only unveils a new level of maturity in Grace’s songwriting, but also stands as her most personal and introspective work to date. With this new release, Nyah Grace confirms what her debut album only hinted at: she’s not just a voice to watch - she’s a force to feel.
