“Ain’t That Kinda Girl (feat. Destiny Lotus)” by Wallis is first and foremost a brilliant R&B/pop track. Not only is it well-written and well-performed, but the production is genuinely unique. As the copious vocal effects pour over the mix, you’re drawn into the creativity, authenticity, and meticulous skill of the sound design. All of the artists involved in making this track add to its diverse, textural goodness.
A slurry of reversed synths, chimes, and mallets swells to meet the first lyric. The singer’s light, airy tone floats over a few held-out guitar chords. The instrumentation remains sparse in order to give the vocals a little room to breathe, especially considering the acrobatic, shapely runs the singer so effortlessly delivers. Suddenly, we’re hit with this distorted, wildly embellished line: “No I don’t need no diamond rings or pearls.” The atmosphere quickly changes from a soft, traditional R&B song to something devilishly interesting in just one moment. The chorus erupts from there, brimming with crisp percussion, warm keyboards, and infectiously catchy melodies. It’s endlessly climactic in the way you expect a pop chorus to be, but it’s also unlike anything you’ve heard before.
After that another verse and chorus, Destiny Lotus gifts us with a rap verse. Her quick-fire stylings add to the sultry message with equal parts imagery and metaphor, peppering in clever turns of phrase everywhere she can. A rap verse is always a welcome choice because it diversifies the dynamic arc of a track. This is no different. Destiny Lotus gives the listener a new perspective on the theme both musically and lyrically.
Be sure to give this track a listen! You’ll be glad you did!
Written by Alyce Lindberg
