Family,
I’m beyond excited to share my latest collaboration, The Wherewithal, the newest single from Yellow Couch Music. Co-written by Layton Weedeman and myself, this song is a deep, soulful reflection on love on the brink—where words fail, distance grows, and two hearts struggle to hold on.
The lyrics came to me during a trip home in December 2023, while I was navigating shifts within some of the most important relationships in my life. When Layton shared the instrumental and chorus with me, the words flowed effortlessly—I was already living them.
With a slick, midtempo groove reminiscent of my birthday twin Sade’s "Sweetest Taboo", The Wherewithal blends jazz and R&B seamlessly, carrying the weight of unspoken emotions through lush keys, uplifting horns, and Jessica “NuLyra” Libertad’s rich basslines. Layton first wrote the song as a personal meditation on love and loss, and when he invited me to lend my voice and pen, I knew this was a story I could help tell.
A soundtrack for the moments when love doesn’t go as planned, this is an anti-Valentine’s anthem for anyone who’s ever felt the growing space between themselves and someone they love.
🎧 Listen to "The Wherewithal" → here.
Written by L.Weedeman, N. Noah
Produced by LHW
Mixed by Pat Van Dyke
Mastered by Alex DeTurk
Recorded by Layton Weedeman
Arranged by Layton Weedeman & Nyallah Noah
Drums: Layton Weedeman
Percussion: Iran “El Menor” Farías & Reinaldo DeJesus
Bass: Jessica “NuLyra” Libertad
Keys: Grady Tesch & Isaiah “Zay” Thornton
Guitar: Timothy James
Saxophone: Lars Haake
Trumpet: Eric Biondo
Vocals: Nyallah Noah
Artwork by LHW
Take a listen, let me know how it moves you, and, as always, thank you for journeying with me.
With love,
NYALLAH
Fabulous, Nyallah!! A bright future awaits you....
You already know. Love this track.
When discovering new music, I always get attached to the vibe, first - how the mix of melody and words pair and how groovy it is. Then I double back on the narrative. While I have been blissfully in love and loved for some time now, these songs still speak to me deeply and I am reminded of moments past. In this case, no different. While catching up on my release radar, my list is always like 200 tracks long, this song perked my ear up amidst the many offerings.
I’d love to know more about the song name. Did ya’ll decide it together? Did either of you have it in mind instinctively?
Folded this it into a playlist recently and followed it with Mary J. Blige’s “Rent Money” (ft. Dave East) as the message and melodic energy felt aligned. Attached in case you have’t heard it (in a while/or at all)
https://open.spotify.com/track/2lFIxJbGfhcAIz5tzacZdK?si=9cTTxQrgQm6p3HM0oVEb7A