Breakout R&b Star Laya Releases “Bet That” Ep

After turning up the heat all summer, Staten Island R&B sensation LAYA presents her anxiously awaited new EP, BET THAT.

The seven-track body of work finds the genre-smashing siren in the zone. She flexes confidently and runs her own world unapologetically.

Among many standouts, the single “Ain’t Playin’” layers breathy vocals above a laid back beat. Her delivery barely cracks a whisper as she declares, “I ain’t playin’ wit you,” only for DJ airhorns to wail across a danceable bridge. She sets the tone with the opener and title track “Bet That.” Ominous orchestration gives way to the sound of an engine revving in the distance and an otherworldly beat laced tight with guitar. Meanwhile, this boss proceeds to lay down the rules from the get-go, “We don’t discuss shit at the function.” On other end of the spectrum, “Left, Right GO!” moves in lockstep on a dreamy march. Then, there’s “Psycho Bitch.” A slinky bassline and head-nodding beat can’t contain her manic energy or soulful delivery. She wonders, “Can we be alone? I feel a stroke of luck coming on.”

Check out the full tracklisting below.

She initially paved the way for the project with “F’d Up” and, most recently, “Need 2 Know.” Of the latter, SoulBounce wrote, “The creative singer-songwriter catches her man slipping and has questions that need truthful answers in her new single ‘Need 2 Know’,” and Rated R&B observed, “While something about its vigorous production recalls Rihanna’s “Kiss It Better,” its lyrics differ. Regarding her romantic relationships, LAYA insists on honesty even if it may cause discomfort.”

“Need 2 Know” stands bold alongside LAYA’s 2022 viral hit “Sailor Moon 2.0” with Baby Tate and her sultry cover of Missy Elliott’s “Sock It 2 Me” for Amazon Music’s Women’s History Month campaign. After a breakthrough 2022, which included her debut EP Um, Hello, LAYA proves she’s here to stay.

You can Bet That…

TRACKLISTING

Bet That
Slide
Ain’t Playin’
F’d Up
Need 2 Know
Left, Right, GO!
Psycho Bitch

ABOUT LAYA:

LAYA’s boundless creativity is born from a desire to push herself. The Staten Island-born artist has worked as a singer, songwriter, producer, creative director, and visual artist—constantly shifting forms and acquiring skills, because, for her, that’s what growth looks like. Her vibrant yet vulnerable take on R&B and pop offers up a unique perspective on life and love, powered by a need for newness. Her debut EP, Um Hello, showcased her slinky 90s-indebted vocals, echoing gently as she flexes what she’s accomplished so far. Growing up around musical theater and visual art, LAYA’s love of performance began in her childhood. But over time her musical energies focused and crystallized, leading her to the nostalgic, yet forward-looking sound resonating with fans today.

Her 2020 breakout, “Sailor Moon,” showcased that visionary approach and broadcast her auteur status, and was later remixed into “Sailor Moon 2.0” feat. Baby Tate. In addition to writing the song, LAYA also shot, directed, and edited the visuals, on top of doing her own hair, makeup, and wardrobe—all skill sets that remain core to her work today, culminating in her latest project, BET THAT. A permutation but not a departure from her R&B soul, the highly anticipated Bet That presents a thrilling explosion of her artistry. The inclination to constantly create has given her a leg up, in terms of achieving her past, present, and future ambitions. “Everything that I’ve gotten to this point, I’ve worked for and made happen,” LAYA says. “It didn’t exist yesterday, but it exists today.” And clearly, tomorrow.