Review: "Deadly" - Hayley Wallis x Kiva Mh

Jazz Williams
16 minutes ago
2 min read

Hayley Wallis x Kiva Mh’s new collab, Deadly, is an indie R&B/trap soul song about a toxic relationship. “They say that you’re toxic, but maybe they’re wrong. You’re intentions look perfect to me.” This line comes in the first verse and it perfectly describes how we approach toxic relationships. We get so wrapped up in their looks and personality that we don’t see how manipulative or ugly on the inside they can be. Other people in our circle see this and try their best to get us to realize it as well, but, sometimes, we purposely put ourselves in this position because we get a thrill from doing something that could hurt us. What can I say? Humans are complicated.

Deadly has honest and descriptive lyrics such as “I know how this ends and I choose to be reckless cause knowing is part of the thrill”. I relate to the lyrics and I really enjoy the overall vibe of the music. This song gives you an old school 90s/00s R&B vibe reminiscient of Brandi or Usher, but it doesn’t sound dated. I believe this is due to Hayley’s rich, warm vocals and the freshness and cadence in Kiva’s flow. If you like R&B and hip hop, this is a great addition to the music you already enjoy. Even if you don't particularly like this genre, you should give it a listen because it is a genuinely good song from start to finish.

Hayley Wallis is a singer originally from Klemtu, a remote island in the Great Bear Rainforest, which is located in British Columbia, Canada. Her debut album, Halulu, was released in 2022. Her goal is to uplift, inspire, and create new possiblities for young indigenous creators. Kiva Mh is an indigenous hip hop artist who is originally from Cache Creek, British Columbia. Both artists have interesting backgrounds which reflect in this song and their solo work. If you’re looking for something unqiue and different from what you normally see in popular music, these artists have what you’ve been missing.