Rising R&B star Essy Maliya blends nostalgic R&B with modern UK sounds in her latest single, "U & Me." Influenced by Aaliyah and Summer Walker, she explores love and heartbreak through soulful vocals and dreamy harmonies. With growing support from BBC 1Xtra, Essy is one to watch this year.

1. You’re back in action with your new single "U & Me"! If this track were a flavour, what would it taste like and why?

 This is such a fun and thought-provoking question haha! I’d say the flavour of ‘U & Me’ is like a warm lemon and honey tea. The lemon brings out that sour, toxic drama the song dives into, while the honey represents those sweet moments that keep pulling you back. And it’s all wrapped up in a tea because I think the lyrics give listeners a cosy, warm feeling inside—and, of course, the British accent totally makes you want a cuppa!

 2. “U & Me” has that smooth, nostalgic vibe. What inspired you to blend those classic R&B elements with a modern twist?

 Honestly, I love that it makes people feel nostalgic - it wasn’t even intentional but I just listen to so much old school R&B that it seems to come out in my music naturally now. I wanted 'u & me' to feel like a classic R&B love song, but with a fresh, modern edge, especially in a way that feels unique to the UK. I’m always inspired by that smooth, soulful vibe, but I also wanted to add some quirky production and play around with my vocals to make it feel current. It's like mixing the old with the new, but with a twist - I call that new nostalgia. 

 3. Love and heartbreak are some serious topics! What’s the story behind "U & Me," and how did you capture those emotions in this track?

 I’m definitely a lover girl so love and heartbreak are something I feel experienced in at this point haha. ‘u & me '’’s story basically encapsulates a situationship - when two people are stuck in a toxic relationship of sorts, and how you can go from love to frustration and back again in a heartbeat. Being stuck in those loops, knowing it’s not healthy but still finding yourself drawn back; that was my situation at the time that I wrote this song. I actually ended up freestyling most of it in the booth because I was that in my feelings LOL!

 4. You’ve got Only Zizou on the track! What was it like teaming up with him, and did you two have any fun moments in the studio?

 Yeah it was amazing to have Zizou on this track! He’s actually my first feature, and I think he absolutely did it justice. I originally sent him the track just to get some feedback, but to my surprise, he came back with a whole verse because he loved the song so much. I was blown away by his verse - it felt like the missing piece that made the song complete. Recording it was such a smooth and enjoyable experience, and it was really cool to see how talented he is in the booth too! 

 5. Your angelic harmonies are to die for! What’s your secret sauce for creating those stunning vocal layers in your music?

 Thank you so much! Honestly, it’s just having fun with it and experimenting. I love stacking vocals and playing around with harmonies until it feels right. The more studio experiences I have, the more comfortable I become with vocal layering. I’ll usually record a bunch of takes and layer them with doubles and harmonies to create that fuller, dreamy sound - I definitely did this the most in my single ‘Say Goodbye’. This technique is something I learnt and fell in love with from the likes of Brandy and Beyonce - the literal vocal layering queens! It really does add so much more to a song - and if the producer knows how to mix them right, then it all comes together perfectly. 

 6. Aaliyah and Summer Walker are major inspirations for you. If you could have a dream jam session with either of them, what would you want to create together?

  think we’d create the greatest R&B heartbreak song to ever exist! 

 7. How does growing up in Luton influence your sound? Is there a local spot that inspires your creativity?

 The school I grew up in was an extremely musical school filled with all sorts of talent, so that was a really big influence when it comes to the people I would draw inspiration from.  And when I wasn’t in school, I spent most of my time at my parents church where I was HEAVILY involved and infatuated with all things music and gospel. I was able to exercise my performance skills because I’d never pass up an opportunity to sing a solo haha! It was a really tight knit and supportive community, so that became my safe space to lean into who I am now. 

 8. The production on “U & Me” is a beautiful blend of modern beats and soulful vibes. What was the magic moment like when you worked with R1ch Music on this track?

 Honestly this song came out of a very random moment. I was actually in the studio to work on something else and at the end of the night we decided to make something new from scratch for fun. We knew we wanted that R&B sound but I wanted to experiment with how to modernise it and make it Bri’ish - and in the space of like 2 hours we had the bare bones of the song done. It felt like a burst of creativity on both of our parts which ended up forming something amazing!

 9. From church choirs to weddings, you’ve performed in all kinds of places! Which gig has been the most memorable for you, and why?

 I love performing everywhere, but my favourite to date has been when I was asked to perform at Maktub Arts - a community of actors that hold live shows of different actors performing mini sketches at a theatre. It was the first time I got to perform my own music with a full band known as ‘Static Sounds’,  who I still use today! They’re all amazing and the event itself was fantastic. It was a new environment full of new ways to get inspired. Honourable mention to the time I got to perform at Depop’s HQ in London too!

 10. We’re excited for the visual for "U & Me"! Can you spill any juicy details about what we can expect from the video? 

 For the visualiser, we wanted to play off the idea of being stuck in the same toxic loops, just like in the song. The concept was a couple in a photobooth, going from all loved up to arguing and leaving, then making up and coming back to do it all over again, with all these moments captured in snapshots from the booth. It was filmed by (the goat) Warko, and he put his signature style on it - making it look vibrant and fun while still capturing that feeling of love and heartbreak. It was so much fun to make, and I think it really brought the whole concept of the song to life.

 11. Music helps you process your emotions, right? How has creating "U & Me" been a journey of healing for you?

 Yeah I absolutely use my music as a healing and processing tool - and I write with the intention of it being that for others. When I write, I become vulnerable because I display the parts of me that most people are able to keep a secret - and sometimes those feelings come from a negative space. But in doing this, I’m able to confront those emotions head on and process them in a healthy way to eventually bring myself out of that. My songs are almost like diary excerpts sometimes! I’m able to look back at what I was feeling and compare it to where I am now, and it’s kinda cool in that sense. 

 12. You wear so many hats as an artist—singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist! What’s the most fun part of balancing these roles in your creative world?

 The best part about being gifted with all these things means I have no limitations other than my own confidence - meaning I sometimes have to look at all the tools I have in front of me and realise I am blessed to be in a situation where I can create the music I want to create from scratch - so I shouldn’t doubt myself. Looking at it from that viewpoint makes me want to keep going!

 13. You’ve caught the attention of BBC 1Xtra and Reprezent Radio! How does it feel to have that kind of support, and does it make you want to dance?

 It’s amazing!! Whenever I get played on the radio I replay their commentary like 1000 times LOL - dancing and all.

 14. What exciting surprises can we look forward to from Essy Maliya this Autumn/Winter after the release of "U & Me"?

 Best I can say right now is stay tuned! ;) There’s more exciting things to come - but in the meantime make sure you check out all my previous releases and keep streaming ‘u & me’! <3