In her new single, "Strum That Guitar," songstress Liahona Olayan invites us to enter a realm of rhythm and revelation. With its bracing mix of Latin pop, flamenco textures, and English/Spanish storytelling, the track heralds an adventurous new era for the wildly inventive genre-blurring artist, as she unfurls an ever-widening palette.
There's something almost otherworldly about the track that's familiar and excellent, like a dream half-remembered but fully felt. A song sung partly in English and partly in Spanish, it creates a vivid image of a wanderer lured by a melody that appears to pulse from another dimension. That trip, mystical and emotional, mirrors Liahona's own artistic evolution. Liahona's music style is infused with elements of soul, R&B, Christian pop, and hip-hop influence.
After spending 18 months immersing herself in Mexico's culture, Liahona absorbed a new musical heartbeat. Her first fully committed embrace of her Latin influence, "Strum That Guitar," feels like home. Co-written by Latin Grammy nominee Alih Jey De Pena and produced by the one and only Luigie "Lugo" Gonzalez, the song is reminiscent of the sheen of a veteran production, yet it still has a beating heart of raw honesty. The flamenco-style guitar is front and center, fluid, emotive, relentless, and Liahona's voice arcs with a combination of longing and liberation.
Her voice is both confident and soft, sensual yet down-to-earth. It's a tricky tightrope, but she manages to walk it most naturally. This is music that reflects a complicated woman of faith, fire, culture, and craft. And on this release, she doesn't merely venture into new musical territory, and she stakes out some territory that feels all her own. "Strum That Guitar" is a song that is much more than a single, a signal flare. Now Liahona Olayan is stepping into her light, guitar in hand, poised to work her magic on the world one strum at a time.
Reviewed by LyricalOdyssey Music
on
July 14, 2025
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