Love Me…Not - Mia Delamar (R&B/Pop) Two years later, Mia Delamar returns to us with her stellar album “Love Me…Not”. We were privileged to review a handful of these tracks from her breakout EP “H.O.M.B.” and in that review dedicated ourselves as Mia stans. We’re happy to report that the additional tracks only cement the good impression we had of Mia when we first encountered her. With so much to love, from the nostalgic retro R&B beats to the vulnerable storytelling, let’s dive into “Love Me…Not”.
An Atlanta native, 25 year-old Mia Delamar names her influences as MIssy Elliot, Aaliyah and Mary J Blige. For us, we’d say Mia’s honey vocals put her in the Brandy/Nivea category, and her productions falling into early Arianna Grande and NAO territory. While we have already reviewed some of these tracks, the cohesiveness of this project as an album-arching narrative begs that we go back into them as they form integral pieces of a well sequenced, thoughtfully crafted story.
The album kicks off with a track that screams ‘album opener’—”Into You.” The warbly synths and bouncing bassline quickly introduce the soundscape of what’s to come—a feel good, poppy R&B groove. There’s a retro feel to the track, a late 90s/early 00s vibe, that reminds us a lot of early Arianna Grande tracks (especially when Mia soars into the rafters), or for those who really want a deep cut, Nivea (or possibly Monica’s more pop tracks).
The baton is handed off quickly to “Whatever”, moving from the giddiness of being into someone to the trepidation of diving into something new. Haunted by past heartbreak, in the end, Mia’s latest love interest has her all in. Continuing the feel good retro vibe, this track reminded us a bit of Lil’ Mo.
“Anyway” picks up the pace with a punchy snare that takes us back to Ghosttown DJ’s “My Boo”. The story of the album continues to a new chapter—first, she’s into the new love, next she’s pushing forward despite heartbreak, and now in “Anyway” she’s going to stick with it through thick and thin. It’s here that we start to appreciate the artistry of not only the tracks themselves, but the album sequencing in building the narrative. The story continues on “Personal”, where the beat introduces a bit of funk as Mia croons about diving into the work of building intimacy.
“Cool - MiMix” is the first sign of trouble. For the first time doubt has crept into the relationship and Mia is standing ten toes down on her boundaries. It’s a hard pivot, because now it’s her lover who is looking to get back in her good graces while Mia confidently and stridently proclaims that she’s “cool” on him now. It’s a relatable feeling for those who’ve been burned before—when burned again, it’s easy to just turn off the switch to protect your peace. With it’s ‘in your face’ delivery providing a stark contrast to the prior tracks, when paired with a bop of a beat, this song quickly became our favorite so far.
On “Alright”, Mia is in the aftermath of the fall. She’s in her self care moment, journaling as she reminds herself that she will get through her heartbreak and come out on the other side. “I Know” introduces a new groove into the album with a touch of afrobeat as Mia boasts on her resume as a perfect partner worth the chase. “H.O.M.B.” is a dreamy track and the sexiest of the project so far (standing for “hands on my body”) as the quiet confidence of “I Know” is amped up into a boastful track about how Mia is the one you need to put in the work for. This is another standout track.
“Say That” continues Mia’s confident streak as she laments the time she wasted on someone, creating one of the catchiest tracks on the project. Looking back on the journey so far, we’ve come a long way from the fuzzy warmth at the top of the album—Mia’s no longer playing around.
On “My Love Don’t Mean a Thing” the retro vibe continues, punctuated by that 80s synth cowbell immediately recognizable to those who grew up on the golden age of R&B. The defensiveness of the prior tracks breaks here as Mia gets into the feelings of rejection, trying to understand why someone she loved could have treated her poorly. The mask slips on this song and the vulnerability in the top half of the album returns.
As we come to the close of the project, “Complicated” shows Mia taking her first steps into something new, but carrying the baggage of the past with her. But she does so openly, putting all cards on the table to let the next love know what they are getting into. Finally, “The Drain”, ends the album on a bit of a downer as Mia, for the first time, wallows in what she’s been through, looking back and dreaming of what could have been. It’s incredibly relatable, and after getting to know Mia through the project, the listener is fully in her corner hoping to see her rise from the ashes on her next project.
It is with great pleasure that we can say Mia Delamar’s “Love Me…Not” is a no-skip project that particularly drew in this elder millennial who grew up on Monica, Brandy, Aaliyah and Nivea. The beats are retro heaven, Mia’s vocals are pillowy soft and intimate and the story is smart, personal, relatable and well told with a clear point of view. At the end of the album we feel like we know Mia, and we root for her. We’ll have this one on repeat for a while. Again, we stan.