Yaya Bey’s “Dream Girl”: A Funk-Fueled Nostalgia Trip
Photography by Cody Lidtke.
Yaya Bey’s new single “Dream Girl” combines a playful, fun-loving funk with that classic R&B magic, delivering a track that feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time. It’s the kind of song that invites you to escape reality for a moment, even if just for those 2 minutes and 8 seconds. This track is just a taste of what’s to come in her highly anticipated album Do It Afraid, dropping June 20th.
Yaya Bey has steadily risen as one of the most exciting voices in modern R&B, known for blending raw, emotional storytelling with eclectic sounds that pay homage to classic soul and funk. After gaining recognition with her 2022 album Remember Your North Star, Yaya is back with her latest offering: a new single titled “Dream Girl.” The track, taken from her highly anticipated album Do It Afraid, out June 20th, invites listeners into a world of dreamy escapism and emotional release.
Dream Girl fuses a playful, fun-loving funk with the nostalgic essence of classic R&B, making it the kind of song that lets you slip away from reality, even if only for 2 minutes and 8 seconds. Yaya’s smooth vocals, drenched in intention, give the track a sense of timelessness—like a beautiful, vintage love song brought into the present. The upbeat vibe is complemented by visuals in the music video that feel like stepping into a past era, where joy, fantasy, and desire are front and centre.
The song’s vibrant, upbeat rhythm and funky bassline are matched perfectly with its visuals, which take you on a colourful, almost cinematic journey — like you’ve stepped into a dream that’s equal parts fantasy and reality.
What makes “Dream Girl” stand out is its ability to balance joy and desire with introspection. Yaya has always had a way of blending deep emotional truths with playful energy, and this track is no different. It’s a reminder that while life may be heavy at times, there’s always space for those moments of freedom where you can just let go.
And if you’re in the UK, you can catch Yaya Bey live as she takes the stage at Omeara in London on May 21st. With a performance sure to match the vibrant energy of “Dream Girl”, it’s an event not to be missed!
Tour Dates:
May 21st – Omeara, London, UK
May 26th – Privatclub, Berlin, Germany
“Dream Girl” is the kind of track that stays with you, inviting you to escape, if only for a few minutes. If you haven’t yet, hit play and let Yaya take you on a journey to somewhere lighter, somewhere free.
