The Sweetest Time’ finds Amolo delivering more of the same soulful cuts and melancholy ballads that have earned her renown.

Maya Amolo has released her sophomore album titled ‘The Sweetest Time.’ The album, which was officially announced about two weeks ago, comes as the follow-up to the Kenyan rising star’s 2024 EP ‘What A Feeling.’While the 5-track EP explored a Dance subgenres in an homage to her home city, Nairobi, ‘The Sweetest Time’ finds Amolo delivering more of the same soulful cuts and melancholy ballads that have earned her renown, only making subtle production adjustments that help keep her sound fresh.

The album’s eponymous lead single arrived earlier in March, a tender earworm featuring fellow Kenyan singer Ywaya Tajiri, which set the tone for what much of her latest full-length release would sound like. The follow-up single, “Guidance,” which was released in May, radiated a similar warmth, as she softly sings about a love interest’s endearing qualities over some moving piano chords.

On the album’s third and final single, “Look The Other Way,” Amolo takes a break from her sweet girl persona, directly confronting, according to her, “internet thugs” who do too much online but lack the same energy in real life. The Kenyan R&B singer, however, does not dedicate much of ‘The Sweetest Time’ to detractors; instead, she channels her energy to familiar love-inspired themes that have continually served as the bedrock of much of her music.

Tracks like the sombre opener “October 10th,” the percussion-driven “Hollon,” “I Like It,” a sensual duet with AYLØ, and the wistful ballad “Truth Be Told,” immediately stand out on ‘The Sweetest Time,’ serving as testament to the rising singer’s supple vocals, which she seems to be having more command over, and her poignant songwriting skills.

While she largely delivers on the sort of acoustic, tender tunes she’s come to be known for, the back end of the album houses a few tracks like the Dance-influenced “Miss Me,” “Flawless,” a collaboration with upcoming rapper Albeezy and the Baile-Funk-inspired “Hocus Pocus,” that clearly highlights the Kenyan singer’s expanding sonic palette and her ability to seamlessly navigate different genres.

Listen to ‘The Sweetest Time’ here.