Persuasion is the opportunist which encircles conflict, endlessly peering for a crack while you’re most vulnerable. A lack of a resolution allows charisma to lampshade acts of survival as romantic instead of manipulative. Zya, the Miami-based singer and the ever-talented DRAM‘s latest collaboration, “Conflicted” proves that indecisiveness pairs well with the force of comfort. Their vocal approach embodies each other feelings. Zya‘s falsetto oscillates like a flame fading off a candle wick. Harsh “I tried to love you all the wrong ways” when attacking her partner yet tender, “I can’t stay away from you/even though I try to” when holding herself accountable, all while her vocals remain weightless. She should, but she can’t.
What makes DRAM special is his word choice. Whether with his silliness, “If I had another condom/I’ll run it back just like you wanna believe,” or delivering spellbinding compliments, “I mean when I say when I look into your eyes/ I get mesmerized, intrigued and hypnotized all at the same time,” his syrupy falsetto paired his charisma spurs levity. It’s subtle, but his reliance on engaging her senses to the physical aspect of love and not the love itself permeates the verse. It’s addicting, impossible to resist when coos hit the nerves only lovers can reach.
