As summer playlists start to take shape, any warm-weather compilation would be incomplete without including a healthy dose of afro-beats in the mix. A worthy addition comes in the form of Ottawa-born artist Maeesha B’s “Personal”, a laid-back listen that keeps the song’s subject an arm’s length away. “I’m not trynna get serious / That’s my fault for being curious,” she sings, setting boundaries as she continues her verse. While sonically conforming to afro-beats, there is very much a soul presence in Maeesha B’s vocals and delivery. There’s plenty of space on the track for you to feel the distance she is trying to create with her partner, a serendipitous characteristic that adds some charm to “Personal”.

There are traces of Maeesha B’s cited influences across the song, those being SZA, Ariana Grande, and H.E.R. While she is quick to draw inspiration from her idols, Maeesha maintains her individuality as an artist by blending styles to fit her tastes. “Personal” follows previous single “Don’t HMU,” a more straight-forward R&B cut that features intoxicating melodies as Maeesha draws a line in the sand. As she continues to show more sides of herself in her music, Maeesha B starts to take the form of an artist without bounds.

‍