Leyma is restless on his introspective new single “Can’t Stay Still”

Leyma transcends genre in a seamless manner with his bedroom produced tracks that are as reminiscent of Mac Miller as they are Rex Orange County. Known for his observational lyricism, he fuses the elegance of lo-fi hip-hop with unsettled indie angst.

Much like recent single “Bounce”, “Can’t Stay Still” is fuelled by a kinetic energy while being an all-encompassing dive into modern youth culture. Drawing on his hip-hop influences, the track opens with a dazed guitar and soft vocals; gradually building before giving way to urgent, distorted bars.

The accompanying video mirrors the progression of the track in its portrayal of calmness building to frustration and torment, before returning to a sedentary state.

“The origin of this song is what it says on the tin, I’m not good at just staying in one place,” shares Leyma, real name Max Hanley, of the single. “You can ask any of my mates and they’ll tell you I’m a shit person to watch films with, I either fall asleep or get up and do something else. Even in a broader sense I need movement in my life, being stagnant just don’t work with me.”

Self-aware and relentless honest with his agitating habits, Leyma continues “So, I was getting a tattoo from Scarlett Butcher, and I could tell I was pissing her off after she asked me to stay still for the twelfth time, the idea for the track just grew from that interaction, telling her I couldn’t. With help from the main man Stephen Barnes, we caught the essence of that restlessness and conflict between two sides of me.”

Now working towards the completion of his new EP, slated for release this autumn, Leyma’s quick wit and fusion of indie, R&B, and hip-hop is set to be amplified with an array of collaborators and explorative sonic flare.