Dawn

Dawn is the debut studio album by Yebba, a project five years in the making following the tragic loss of her mother. Produced largely by Mark Ronson at the legendary Electric Lady Studios, the album represents a sophisticated intersection of neo-soul, jazz, and chamber pop. While Yebba gained initial fame for her vocal features with artists like Sam Smith and Chance the Rapper, Dawn establishes her as a singular architect of sound. The record is notable for its 'vocal stacking' technique, where Yebba records dozens of layers of her own voice to create a choral effect that replaces traditional synthesizers or string sections in many places. Critics, including those from AllMusic, have noted the album's rare balance of technical vocal virtuosity and genuine emotional stakes. The inclusion of collaborators like Smino and Questlove adds a rhythmic grit to the otherwise ethereal arrangements, making it a definitive document of modern soul's capacity for complex storytelling.