"The 808 cowbells on " Boo'd Up" were a red herring. Across several EPs and two albums, Ella Mai has proven herself to be more than a throwback act. While the British singer's longing vocals and smooth hooks take obvious cues from '90s and 2000s' R&B, her bouncy and moody SoCal sound aligns her with the present. She's both hopelessly prone to falling head over heels and quick to put " these heartless, broken boys" in their place if they toy with her feelings."
"Records about settling down tend to bask in the thrills of leaving dating behind and getting the chance to forge a new life. Do You Still Love Me? follows that tradition in its first half. Single "100," built atop lush strings, whining chipmunk vocals, and crisp snaps, is rhapsodic, Mai extolling her relationship's flexible dynamic. "20 for my 80/Ain't no maybe/We'll make it to 100/If I got 40 for your 60/You'll stick with me," she sings, stretching each number like it's a last dollar."
Ella Mai's third album Do You Still Love Me? combines '90s and 2000s R&B cues with a bouncy, moody SoCal aesthetic to create polished midtempo grooves that thread snap&b, soul, and rap. The record's first half embraces the joys of settling down and reciprocal devotion, exemplified by the single "100," which pairs lush strings and crisp snaps with lyrics about balanced commitment. Ballads like "Somebody's Son" and "Little Things" emphasize steadfast devotion and find pleasure in small acts of service. Mai's vocal delivery is more clarion than yearning, balancing vulnerability with the readiness to put insincere partners in their place, while underlying doubt subtly tints the album's optimism.
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