Each Measure Feature: Neitam Am

FEATURE

Nothing beats a good bite-sized bop.

Clocking in at just under 2:30, Neitam Am’s new release, “No Regrets,” isn’t exactly an epic, but it manages to land some impressive blows for a such a short track, and in my opinion, it’s the perfect length for an emotional gut punch of a song.

Located in the Southeastern region of the United States, Neitam Am is on a mission to expand the sound of the R&B genre to which her music belongs. “No Regrets” is a great example, offering a healthy blend of experimentation and authenticity in and R&B package.

It’s hard to think of an artist to compare Neitam Am to. That’s because she doesn’t sound like other artists. She sounds like herself, and the fact that someone so early in her career has already mastered her own sound is a great sign of things to come.

One of the tracks most salient features is Am’s unique combination of sounds. For the instrumentation, she chooses subtle lo-fi textures formed by crisp electric guitars, muted drum machines, and keyboard notes that linger. Yet if the musical backdrop is polished and understated, her vocals are raw and rousing. At times, her voice seems to tremble with emotion. It takes courage to wrench a song from your soul like that, and it takes skill to blend it so flawlessly with a beat. Am has both.

Lyrically, the song explores a desperate attempt to right old wrongs and win back the one that got away. The track begins with a phone call which seemingly represents the moment Am called things off with her partner before realizing the mistake she made. There’s a self-effacing, confrontational tone to the lyrics, dripping with honesty and apology rather than attempts to shift blame or make excuses. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Am drew on her own personal experiences to write the song. It has that quality of authenticity, and in some ways, it feels like we’re eavesdropping on a private conversation between her and someone she loves.

So, what makes Neitam Am worthy of a feature?

For me, it is her realness – her refusal the sugarcoat while delivering a fresh dose of musicality. Both lyrically and musically, she understands how to capture the feeling of conflict. She’s found her niche under the R&B umbrella, and she’s making the most of it is in a way only she can.

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