Debbie - 'No Way'
The Def Jam 0207 signee, Debbie, returns with her latest single 'No Way', released last week. This signifies another mark in the R&B songstress' career as yet another redefining voice in London's musical landscape.
In a departure from her last, acoustic soul single 'Is This Real Love?', Debbie presents an R&B/dance crossover track, detailing the betrayal of a lover, insisting that there's 'no way' they'll find another love like the one the singer provided. This goes to show how the young singer-songwriter is still experimenting with her sound and style, refusing to be pinned down and unafraid to expand her repertoire.
Lyrically, the track begins with Debbie announcing that their partner 'must have lost (their) mind'. As this interpolates throughout the track, the lyric signifies a shift in today's modern dating scene, where women are exerting more control and accepting far less nonsense from their male counterparts. Conversely, it is also a narration of modern dating, dominated by casual flings, or 'situationships'; 'you should be ashamed of yourself / caught you with somebody else'. In a time where loving out loud, and active commitment, seems to be scarce, the rhythm and blues genre continues to insist on romance, and 'No Way' contributes to a narrative of young women demanding more from their partners than ever before.
As Stormzy's protégée, Debbie has catapulted to the forefront of London's music scene, providing vocals for no less than five tracks for the former's last record, This Is What I Mean. Debbie is favoured highly by critics, receiving acclaim from The Times, The Guardian, British Vogue, and NME, among others. Having also just headlined her first show at London's Omeara last month, the singer is well on her way to being both a critic's and fan favourite. Whilst we await her debut album, we are looking at a year full of musical releases. It is an exciting time to be a fan of London R&B, as Debbie is one of many rising voices seeking to reclaim the genre as their own.
Words by Laura Maxwell
