Album review: Ella Mai, self-titled

Boo'd Up singer Ella Mai has dropped her debut album. Photo / Supplied

Ella Mai's breakout single Boo'd Up has been one of the biggest hits of the year, leaving many wondering what else the young R&B artist has to offer - a question which has been answered with her debut self-titled album.

Following up a platinum-certified global hit is no easy feat, but Ella Mai's given it an impressive go, bringing in the help of genre legend John Legend as well as heavy hitters Chris Brown and H.E.R. and holding her own in their company.

Her vocals - at times Rihanna-esque - are all swagger, sass and a killer lower register, and she mixes elements of old-school R & B into the melodies and production for a nostalgic feel.

Lyrically, there are hits and misses as she examines love and lust - a minor example being a clumsy reference to "eye puddles", a major one being the Chris Brown collaboration Whatchamacallit, on which the pair try to justify cheating.

She also weaves spoken-word interludes throughout the album, which spell out her name as a kind of introductory mission statement, which, at best, feels a little rudimentary and, at worst, feels like an attempt to add substance with words she should've written into song.

Highlights include Dangerous, Shot Clock and the John Legend duet Everything, but nothing really hits quite as hard as her first two singles Boo'd Up and Trip.

This debut proves Ella Mai is definitely not a one-hit wonder, but it hasn't quite cemented her place in music yet either.

Ella Mai (self-titled)

Artist: Ella Mai
Album: Ella Mai
Label: Universal Music
Verdict: A release which doesn't disappoint, but doesn't excite either.