Iyla Elise - Better Days

​Iyla Elise 

Better Days
self-released; 2025

By Jamie Funk
​

“Better Days” begins with restraint, with bass, guitar, and a steady kick drum setting the stage for something quietly confident. Within seconds, the groove snaps into focus, and I found myself thinking of My Morning Jacket’s brand of rootsy expansiveness. The song walks that fine line between Americana, rock, and folk, never leaning too hard on any single genre. What makes it work is the sense of balance. It’s grounded, but it moves. It’s familiar, but it still surprises.

From the first listen, “Better Days” already felt like a song I’d known for years. Elise understands how to use dynamics not just as volume shifts but as emotional punctuation. Around the two and a half minute mark, the band locks in completely, and her voice soars without losing its warmth. It’s that rare moment when everything clicks, when tone, timing, and delivery all align. The production is clean but human, with enough space in the mix to let every instrument breathe. I kept coming back to the song later in the day, and it held up each time.

Elise has been quietly building a catalog that rewards close listening. Each new release expands her range without abandoning the heart that defines her writing. “Better Days” continues that streak, a reminder that great songwriting doesn’t need embellishment; it just needs honesty.

If this track draws you in, it’s worth exploring her other recent singles which we have also reviewed. I get the sense this is just the beginning of a much larger story, and Elise seems fully ready to tell it.

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