One of my favorite female vocalists and all-around artists is Malaysian singer-songwriter Lyia Meta, an immensely talented, gracious and lovely recording artist with a powerhouse singing voice. I generally prefer female voices in the deeper ranges, and her soulful and vibrant contralto style resonates strongly with me. Based in Kuala Lumpur and of local Creole Portuguese ancestry, Lyia’s a multi-faceted artist in every sense of the word. She can literally sing just about anything and in fact, has recorded songs in a wide range of genres including blues, jazz, pop, country, rock and even metal, bringing her international recognition and acclaim. 

A prolific artist, she’s released an impressive amount of music over the past eight years, beginning with her debut EP This is Lyia in 2016. Since then, she’s dropped numerous singles, two more EPs and an album, Always You, last June. She’s been nominated for, and won, numerous music awards around the globe over the years. Besides Malaysia, she’s also performed in India, Los Angeles and Texas, and has been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, FAULT Magazine, Reader’s Digest and many more. As if all that weren’t enough, she’s also a highly-accomplished visual artist with several exhibits to her credit. She even surprised me in 2019 with a wonderful pencil drawing of my portrait, which I proudly hang in my bedroom!

I’ve featured her many times on this blog since 2018, most recently last May (of 2023), when I wrote about her stunning single “Always You” in a Fresh New Tracks post. For her latest musical project, Lyia pays homage to one of the most legendary acts who’ve shaped our musical heritage by reimagining The Beatles’ classic “All My Loving”. Acknowledging the enduring charm of this classic song that’s captivated listeners for generations, she’s teamed up once again with her frequent collaborators – Nashville-based producer Bob McGilpin and co-producer Gene Rabbai. Together, they’ve reinterpreted the song in a jazz pop style, allowing Lyia to imbue a fresh perspective in her own unique way, while still honoring its timeless appeal.

Lyia elaborates: “Reimagining ‘All My Loving’ was approached with great respect for the timeless music of The Beatles. Collaborating with my producer Bob McGilpin and co-producer Gene Rabbai, our rendition of this iconic song is a heartfelt expression and a sincere appreciation for their enduring legacy.”

For the recording of the track, McGilpin played guitar, drum and bass, as well handling the arrangement and sound mixing, while Rabbai played piano and orchestration. The result is a lovely, easy-listening interpretation of the song, featuring smooth piano keys, delicate guitar notes, gentle percussion and breezy orchestration. But the highlights for me are the wonderful saxophone and subtle trumpet that lend a warm, jazzy vibe to the proceedings, as well as Lyia’s marvelous vocals that have a somewhat sensual quality that further enhances the song’s jazzy allure. It’s a superb tribute to The Beatles’ classic indeed!

Follow Lyia: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Find her music on Spotify / Soundcloud / Apple Music / Amazon / deezer / YouTube