Iyla Elise - Mother of My Mother
Iyla Elise traces the thread of generational memory on her new single “Mother of My Mother,” a quietly powerful song that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. From the moment it begins with gentle brushwork, restrained guitar, and her steady voice, it’s clear she isn’t in a rush to make a point. The song moves slowly, giving each moment room to breathe.
There’s a hush to the early arrangement, one subtly shaded by orchestral strings that carry emotional weight without slipping into melodrama. I could feel a quiet ache just beneath the surface. Around the halfway mark, the atmosphere shifts. Elise lets her voice rise, not in a grand or showstopping way, but with a grounded kind of hope. It’s a release that feels intimate rather than theatrical.
As the song swells in its final stretch, there’s a sense that something has been processed. Maybe it’s not resolution, but it’s recognition. That final lift never feels excessive or unearned. For me, “Mother of My Mother” doesn’t try to impress. It holds space. It listens back. It stays with you.