Sudanese R&B singer-songwriter Gaidaa returns to digital platforms with YARN, a stunning 8-track EP that’s intimate, emotionally layered, and sonically warm. With her velvety voice and magnetic presence, Gaidaa delivers a body of work that’s as personal as it is universally resonant.
Opening with Overdrive, an a cappella interlude that gently pulls listeners in, YARN sets the tone for a deeply introspective journey. Here, Gaidaa peels back every layer, sharing a narrative of growth, healing, and the kind of pain that often precedes creative rebirth.
“‘YARN’ is a journey through self-exploration, doubt, insecurity, struggle, self-suppression, healing, transformation, and ultimate surrender. It explores the illusions I once held tightly—about control, identity, and self-worth–shining light on where those ideas are flawed and breaking down the harmful past narratives. ‘YARN’ moves through the chaos of self-destruction, longing, and emotional numbness. It takes us through the cycles of avoidance and painful realizations and breakthroughs—before finally arriving at a place of openness and release,” shares Gaidaa.
From there, the EP flows into Jealous, a piano-tinged track filled with confessional lyrics about the discomfort of resisting your own feelings. The vulnerability continues with Distance, a melancholic, acoustic-driven piece that exposes one of the most tender sides of Gaidaa’s artistry.
Then come Rolling and Runaway, two back-to-back highlights that showcase Gaidaa’s command of rhythm and melody. With syncopated beats, catchy hooks, and heartfelt lyricism, these tracks reaffirm her strength as a voice in modern R&B.
Empath dives even deeper into Gaidaa’s stormy self-reflection, marked by meticulous production and raw emotional truth. It’s followed by Something True, a track that bursts in like a flash of clarity, revealing a more self-assured Gaidaa ready to play her hand, not lament her losses. Her high notes here are flawless and moving.
Closing with the piano-rich Fly Away, the EP ends on a brighter, more hopeful note. It feels like an exhalation after the emotional weight of the journey—a celebration of growth, resilience, and renewal.
Across these eight tracks, Gaidaa proves her rare gift for turning the deeply personal into something profoundly universal. Since breaking through with her viral Kehlani cover in 2017 and her hit A Storm on a Summer’s Daywith Full Crate, she’s taken a steady, intentional path toward becoming one of the most authentic voices in R&B.
Her COLORS session, her collaboration with Saba on “Stranger,” and her 2020 debut Overture already hinted at the depth of a true storyteller. But with YARN, that promise fully blossoms. Every song feels like a sung diary entry—mature, courageous, and cathartic.
In YARN, Gaidaa reminds us that telling a meaningful story doesn’t require having it all figured out. Sometimes, it’s enough to be honest, let go, and sing from the gut. And she does—gracefully, soulfully, with the calm wisdom of someone who understands that art, too, is about letting the threads hang loose.
photos / Segraphy
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