With 2024's
Lively Premonition
, Maryland singer/songwriter
Jordana Nye
completes a musical transformation from cozy bedroom pop upstart to sophisticated yacht rock chanteuse. It's a vibe she's been hinting at since 2022's
Face the Wall
, and one she more directly embraced on the 2024 single "My Idol," her breezy duet with singer
Paul Cherry
. Recorded in Los Angeles with instrumentalist
Emmett Kai
,
is the kind of sun-dappled, vinyl-era production that artists like the
Carpenters
and
Rupert Holmes
perfected in the early '70s. Certainly,
Nye
's early work hinted at the influence, but with
Kai
she fully crosses over to the smooth side, crafting endlessly lyrical pop songs that shimmer at the edges with jazzy harmonies and a surprising number of disco-era bass grooves.
is an empathetic musical partner, framing
's warm, naturally resonant vocals in soft piano, acoustic guitars, and orchestral percussion. Yet, he also punctuates songs at just the right moment with fuzzy electric guitars and analog rainbow synths. Much of the album has the feeling of a classic, Laurel Canyon-esque singer/songwriter album as
draws upon her own experiences living in Los Angeles and going through romance and heartbreak. Cuts like the opening "We Get By" and the piano-driven "Like a Dog," are smartly written songs that evince an enticing blend of influences, from L.A. stalwarts like
Randy Newman
to the literate pop of
Aimee Mann
. Just as convincing is
's turn toward the dancefloor on "Raver Girl" and "Wrong Love;" hooky, soulful anthems that recall the '70s singer/songwriter soul of
Hall & Oates
. With
Jordana
certainly showcases her growing maturity as a performer, but her work remains as cozy and affecting as ever. ~ Matt Collar