Laya, an up-and-coming singer/songwriter, draws inspiration from her idol Brandy by interpolating her hit record “I Wanna Be Down” in the composition of her new song “Crazy Down”. Missy Elliott and Beyoncé‘s “Crazy Feelings” from Elliott’s 1999 album “Da Real World” is also sampled in the song.

However, the song is not just another cover. Instead of imitating Brandy’s naivety or Elliott and Beyoncé’s naïve adoration, Laya utilizes this as a chance to introduce the audience to who she is: a woman who pursues what—and who—she desires. The Staten Island native also shares a video that she both directed and created. Laya is presently preparing for the reissue of her EP “Um, Hello” and she is putting a modern spin on ’90s R&B while carving out her own space in the business.