Iyla Elise - True North

Iyla Elise

True North
self-released; 2025

By Jamie Funk
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Iyla Elise has been releasing music at a steady pace, and her latest single “True North” might be the most affecting of the bunch. From the first listen, I felt that sense of nostalgia it carries, the way a song can open up memory without being tied to any one place or time. It is built on simple foundations: piano at the center, her voice as the main force, and just enough guitar to trace the edges. The tremolo in particular lingers, adding a subtle pulse that feels like it’s carrying the song forward without ever pulling it away from its core.

What struck me most was how much Elise is willing to trust restraint. “True North” doesn’t try to expand into an oversized arrangement or force extra layers where they are not needed. Instead, it holds to its minimalism, letting the intimacy of piano and voice stretch outward until it feels like something larger. I caught myself imagining it both in a small, quiet room and echoing through a concert hall, and both versions made sense.
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Her vocals, though, are what seal the track. Elise sings with a clarity that makes every note feel intentional, every rise and fall deliberate. She lets her voice take up the space the song leaves open, soaring when it needs to and pulling back at just the right moments. I walked away from it feeling like “True North” was less about scale and more about direction, a song that points you back to something essential. It is one of her simplest tracks, and also one of her strongest.

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