Ella Mai celebrated her 30th birthday on November 3, 2024 with the release of 3, a three-track EP that yielded the singers fifth entry on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. That single, the pleasant slow jam "Little Things," reappeared as a central track on Do You Still Love Me?, and though it was well over a year old at the time, its romantic view of domesticity is most emblematic of the album. Stylishly produced by the ever-supportive Mustard, Do You Still Love Me? is more assured than its title suggests, even when Mai deals with her mans betrayal and is irked by calls made to her man by his ex. Mai deploys her elongated notes and vibrato with such grace that, when she claims she will "burn this whole thing down," its hard to discern whether the threat is idle or serious. The loved-up material, from "Little Things" to the devotional "100" to the churchified "No Angels," wins out with ease. ~ Andy Kellman
Rovi
EP『3』を挿んだ3年半ぶりの3作目は、2024年に第一子を授かった彼女がその妊娠中と産後の期間に制作したもの。とにかく自分にとって心地良いものを作りたかったそうで、盟友マスタードの全曲プロデュースにてゲストを迎えずに歌った、親密で内密なアルバムに仕上がっている。キアヌ・ビーツも関わった"100"のソウル・サンプルや"Tell Her"でのデスチャのオマージュなど耳を惹く部分もありつつ、ベースとなるのは成熟と一貫性を伴ったオーセンティックなR&B作品で、彼女自身の考える〈エラ・メイらしさ〉が100%出たであろう内容。最初は地味かもしれないが聴くほどに良くなるタイプの一枚だ。
bounce (C)池谷瑛子
タワーレコード(vol.508(2026年3月25日発行号)掲載)