Every so often, an artist arrives who doesn’t just perform, they present. Toronto-born, Brazilian-rooted newcomer Yya does just that with her debut single SLIDE, a track that merges sensuality with survival, delivered with the kind of quiet confidence you can’t fake.
Built on a fusion of funk, R&B, and hip-hop, SLIDE moves smooth. But don’t mistake it for surface-level.
Beneath the bounce is a story of resilience, evolution, and what it means to let go of what no longer serves you.
“I’ve had to slide out of situations, habits, and versions of myself that didn’t serve me anymore,” Yya said. “It’s about reclaiming your power and moving like you’re healed even when you’re still in the process.”
That duality sits at the heart of Yya’s music. Raised in Toronto but deeply connected to her Brazilian roots, she brings together the spiritual and the streetwise.
Her influences read like a cypher: Tupac. Jadakiss. Lil Kim. But what emerges isn’t a throwback, it’s something personal. Something built from real experience.
Left by her mother at 14, Yya turned to writing as a way to survive the silence. Poetry became music. Vulnerability became a weapon.
And now, SLIDE is her first public offering. “I made this for those who know what it’s like to survive in silence,” she says. “But now we’re showing up out loud.”
There’s no gimmick here, just energy. The track carries the rhythm of Brazil, the grit of Toronto, and the kind of emotional honesty that makes a debut feel like a beginning and a reckoning.
With more music on the way, Yya is setting the tone with purpose. SLIDE is the first step in a much bigger story. One about showing up, standing tall, and staying true.
Stream SLIDE and follow @the1yya to watch it all unfold.