Nia Imani released her first single, “Ruthless,” on July 18. Practicing quality over quantity, this pop track is a strong debut for the singer/songwriter.
Nia Imani released her single “Ruthless” on July 18. This pop track was both written and performed by the artist. Imani also debuted the associated music video this summer. No stranger to the stage, the artist was in the Lion King on Broadway as a child. Though she continued to sing and act afterwards, this is her first foray into recording solo work. Imani had a strong band of producers and mixers on her side in the studio. The result is a polished and experienced feeling song/video.
From start to finish it seems Imani chose to abide by the principle that less is more – when done well. Instrumentation, production, locations, choreography and costuming are all pared-down and clean. Consequently, the whole piece feels classy and music-focused. This is an effective tactic for a premier, as there are no distractions from the product.
“Ruthless” delivers a promising combination of emotionality and catchiness. The vocals are clearly front and center – and Imani delivers. A piano-heavy tune, just enough additional instrumentation adds power to the track without drowning out the song’s heart. Listeners will enjoy this slightly R&B-tinged pop track. It will be interesting to see how the artist follows this debut single.