Vayda is quickly picking up well-earned recognition as her songs reach more listeners. But before she became the well-rounded star that she is now, you may have known her under the monicker Venus as an engineer. Her production style, shaped by underground electronic and alt hip hop, stood out in her hometown Atlanta’s trap-heavy scene, pulling inspiration from Kaytranada and Soulection. She has since collaborated with a plethora of  artists. Just to name a few: Pink Siifu, MAVI, Fly Anakin, Tony Shhnow and Zelooperz. She cultivated a sound that blended ethereal R&B, avant-garde hip hop and alternative soul. Her transition from engineer to the alt rapper that she now is was seamless, given she’s able to beautifully melt her production with her weightless delivery. With this evolution came a rebrand: Venus became Vayda, and her music took on a new depth, balancing her producer instincts with her own strong artistic identity.

I am obsessed with everything about this album. The concept is so perfectly reinforced in every aspect. There’s the obvious homage depicted in the record’s cover art and title. Then the story unfolds throughout the album, we listen to Vayda call out all the fugazi and reaffirm her truth, and the truth is that she really IS that girl! She released the incredibly bold and vulnerable VAYTRIX in 2023. It gained underground acclaim, however, her features on more well-known artists’ projects still topped her charts. Two years later she revamped the album with the release of VAYTRIX RELOADED and it’s gaining even more buzz now with the release of her latest EP, leading her to ultimately remove VAYTRIX from streaming. Don’t worry, though! The revamped album is everything VAYTRIX was and even more, if that’s possible. Nearly entirely self-produced, the project highlighted her growth and commitment to pushing her own creative boundaries.

So, the EP that seems to be blowing Vayda all the way up (finally). Just months after the release of VAYTRIX RELOADED, Vayda dropped Put Your Clothes On, a striking departure from the dreamy, atmospheric textures of her typical work. The cover art alone is so…jarring? In the best way! The EP’s raw, urgent energy matches this art and showcases yet another side of her talent, proving that she isn’t afraid to pivot and explore new directions. I was happy for her as if she was a friend when I saw it jump straight to her Top Songs list, surpassing records with major artists she rapped with in the past. The project’s growing impact reignited interest in VAYTRIX RELOADED, giving Vayda the recognition she continues to work so hard for. With each release, Vayda refines her craft while remaining entirely unique in her sound. Her rapid evolution, production rate and fearless creativity hint at an even bigger trajectory ahead, making it clear that she’s just getting started.