Never Thought I Could (Part 1) sees Lloyiso evolving from a remarkable singer into a more complete artistic voice.
By Yinoluwa Olowofoyeku
For South African singer and songwriter Lloyiso, born Loyiso Gijana, the path to his long-awaited debut album, Never Thought I Could (Part 1), has been a slow and deliberate ascent shaped by patience, vocal mastery, and a deep commitment to emotional storytelling. Raised in Uitenhage in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Lloyiso first came into the public eye in 2015 as a teenage contestant on Idols South Africa, where his striking vocal ability and gospel-inflected tone quickly distinguished him from his peers.
Though his run on the show was brief, it proved to be the catalyst for a career that would steadily expand beyond the television spotlight. In the years that followed, he signed to Ambitiouz Entertainment and began releasing singles such as “Nontsikelelo” and “Intliziyo,” collaborations and early solo efforts that hinted at the emotional sincerity and melodic sensitivity that would become his signature.
After parting ways with the label, Lloyiso entered a new chapter in 2021 when he signed with Universal Music Group South Africa and Republic Records, a move that positioned him for broader global exposure and allowed him to refine his sound within a space that blends soul, pop, R&B, and gospel warmth.
His 2023 EP Seasons, produced by an international team including Earwulf, Mr. Hudson, and Stargate, marked a significant breakthrough, earning multiple nominations at the South African Music Awards and winning Best Pop Album while introducing a wider audience to his soaring balladry through songs like “Seasons”, “Speak”, and “Let Me Love You Now”.
In the years since, Lloyiso has continued to build momentum through emotionally resonant singles, international touring, and a growing reputation as one of South Africa’s most compelling young vocalists.
That journey now culminates in the arrival of his debut album Never Thought I Could (Part 1), a project released on 6 March 2026 that represents both a milestone and a reflection point in a decade-long artistic journey, capturing the themes that have long defined his catalogue such as vulnerability, heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery while positioning him firmly within the global conversation around contemporary soul-leaning pop.
“Rain” opens Never Thought I Could (Part 1) with a dramatic sense of emotional gravity, immediately establishing the album’s tone through Lloyiso’s commanding vocal presence. The song begins with harmonised humming that feels almost choral in nature, surrounding the listener with a rich bed of voices before Lloyiso’s piercing, crystal-clear lead enters.
His delivery is vulnerable and emotive as he begins confessing, using rainfall as a symbolic force of cleansing and purification, washing away pain, guilt, and self-inflicted damage. “Down came the rain / And it poured / Washing all the blame that I hold in my hands / Down came the rain / And it stormed / Putting out the fires that I set to myself.” Subtle plucked acoustic guitars and sombre piano chords gradually slip into the arrangement, weaving together with dense layers of effected backing vocals.
The song steadily builds toward a cinematic second chorus powered by a pulsing bassline, where Lloyiso flexes his vocal range and agility. He belts with control while allowing a hint of strain to surface in his voice, the slight cracks in his falsetto and the strength in his runs amplifying the emotional intensity. A bridge carried by prominent piano chords brings the piece toward its closing moments, allowing the ballad to crest at its emotional peak before gently ushering the listener into the world of Never Thought I Could (Part 1).
With “Higher”, the album pivots into a more uplifting sonic landscape while retaining the emotional sincerity established in the opening track. Bright piano chords layered over a pitched-up vocal sample introduce the song before an energetic drop arrives with a rumbling synth bass and a groovy breakbeat. The track takes the shape of an anthemic declaration of perseverance, painting vivid images of rising above adversity and pushing through life’s obstacles.
Lloyiso settles comfortably into his middle register, delivering smooth melodic lines enhanced by subtle vocal effects that add texture to his voice. “Still holding on to destiny / Pulling me through gravity / Oh, I wanna go (Higher)”. The song expands dramatically in a bombastic call-and-response chorus stacked with thick layers of vocal harmonies.
A thumping instrumental break follows, driven by bold brass stabs and swelling choir-like vocal textures that reinforce the song’s triumphant mood. Within that powerful arrangement, Lloyiso navigates thrilling passages of vocal agility, belting around the layered harmonies while his melodies lift alongside the inspirational theme at the centre of the song.
“High” continues the motivational thread, though it turns inward rather than upward. Smooth synth keys introduce the track with warm chords before a straightforward pop drum arrangement joins in, marked by a crisp, almost electronic snare and firm kick drums. Where the previous song focused on aspiration and perseverance, this track emphasises personal determination and inner focus. Lloyiso sings with steady conviction as he describes setting his sights firmly on his goals. “Nothing’s gonna change my mind / I already set my sights, mm / No hesitation, I got all my expectations / At a different kinda elevation”.
The instrumental gradually thickens through rolling tom fills and bright synth accents that lift the tension toward the pre-chorus. When the chorus arrives, the songwriting leans into mantra-like simplicity with the repeated refrain “High, high, high, high” floating over a driving drum break. Throughout the track, Lloyiso glides seamlessly through his vocal range, sometimes leaning into intimate phrases in his lower register before suddenly rising into piercing falsetto notes. The result is a dynamic vocal journey that constantly shifts the listener’s perspective, drawing them in with quiet moments before surprising them with the sheer power of his upper register.
“Fragile Things” slows the pacing again, pulling the listener into a more reflective space. Short staccato plucked notes introduce the instrumental before Lloyiso’s gentle delivery arrives in his lower register, creating a sense of emotional closeness. Gradually, ghostly backing vocals appear alongside a filtered snare hit layered with subtle bursts of static, while a pulsing synthetic bassline begins to move beneath the surface.
The arrangement builds steadily toward a powerful knocking transition marked by shimmering synth pads and soaring falsetto vocals. At the emotional core of the song is Lloyiso’s declaration of self-preservation as he chooses personal well-being over the responsibilities of a romantic relationship. “Love, I can’t give that, just forgive me / Don’t want you to blame yourself / Feeling guilty, I don’t want to lose / But if I gotta choose / I’m choosing myself-self-self.” The track moves through waves of sparse instrumentation and fuller layered sections, cresting emotionally before gradually retreating again. It concludes with a restrained refrain that quietly closes the chapter after its instrumental and emotional peak.
On “Scary”, Lloyiso leans fully into the vulnerability that has defined much of Never Thought I Could (Part 1). Twinkling piano notes and delicate bell tones form the foundation of a simple instrumental palette, allowing his voice to sit clearly at the forefront.
From the opening lines, he delivers a candid confession filled with both conviction and regret. “I’d hate to see you cry / I know that it would break me / But I don’t think I’m ready / To love you now / I’m tryna save your heart.” Layers of swimming harmony vocals begin to gather around the lead as the song slowly transitions toward its main progression.
Clacking snares arranged in a 3-2 pattern gradually appear before expanding into thumping stadium-sized pop drums. Even as the instrumentation grows in scale, the arrangement avoids drifting fully into pop spectacle, preserving the song’s ballad identity. The track reaches a dramatic B-section climax where bright synths, electric guitars, and pianos combine beneath Lloyiso’s soaring upper-register belting and sweeping choir-like backing vocals. After reaching its emotional summit, the song gently descends into quieter vocalisations over simple piano chords, easing the listener down from the sonic intensity.
“Fade Away” shifts toward a brighter pop palette built around synth chords and a smooth bassline that moves comfortably beneath rattling shakers and heavily syncopated kick drums. A simple clap arrangement reinforces the groove while subtle touches of rolling log drums add a distinct vernacular flavour reminiscent of the rhythmic accents present in Tyla’s pop work. This straightforward instrumental canvas gives Lloyiso room to explore his vocal range in creative ways.
The main melodic lines remain accessible and uncluttered, yet he embellishes them with expressive vocal techniques such as register switching, curved melodic runs, and intricate harmony layering. His performance aligns closely with the escapist message at the centre of the song. “Oh I’ll run, I’ll run, I’ll run, I’ll run, I’ll run / Till it all just fades away / No feelings, time or space / Oh, it washes me away, away, away.” Structurally, the song may be one of the simpler entries on Never Thought I Could (Part 1), but its execution remains detailed and polished, carried by the expressive nuance of Lloyiso’s voice.
“Lost & Found” closes the album on a rhythmically intriguing note. The track begins with a hi-hat pattern that establishes an off-kilter rhythmic feel, playing with irregular meter and timing that encourages the listener to lean in and search for the groove. Lloyiso’s voice follows that unpredictable rhythm, slipping into unusual pockets before the chorus resolves into a more familiar 4/4 structure.
After the first chorus, the song drops into a fuller instrumental arrangement with grand piano chords, a rich bassline, sharp snares, and forceful kick drums. Within that shifting landscape, Lloyiso delivers one of the album’s most introspective reflections. “I’ve been giving pieces of myself / Away to many things I never felt / Hopelessly in love with nothing else / Everything I lost I never found.” Kaleidoscopic vocal effects swirl around his voice while the arrangement alternates between instrumental drops and layered sections. As the final moments of Never Thought I Could (Part 1) arrive, the song fades with a subtle vocal flourish that brings both the track and the album to a quiet, contemplative close.
Never Thought I Could (Part 1) arrives as a statement of intent. Even with a runtime that sits slightly shorter than his Seasons EP, Lloyiso’s decision to present the project as an album speaks to the level of intention and auteurship behind the body of work. The title itself signals the narrative ambition of the project.
Framed as Part 1, the album hints at a larger story still unfolding, suggesting that this release is only the opening chapter of a broader artistic arc. The title Never Thought I Could (Part 1) reads as an admission, an appraisal, and ultimately an acceptance of personal shortcomings. The narrative revolves around confronting guilt, shedding self-imposed limitations, and allowing oneself to grow beyond the emotional barriers that once defined both personal and romantic experiences. Across the tracklist, the songs repeatedly return to this central idea, approaching it from different emotional perspectives and reinforcing the thematic focus that anchors the album.
This thematic clarity is made possible by Lloyiso’s penmanship. His songwriting walks a delicate line between autobiography and universality. The lyrics often feel deeply personal, as though he is opening a window into his own life and emotional history. At the same time, the writing remains open enough for listeners to project their own experiences into the stories being told.
That balance allows his words to operate almost like emotional vessels, capable of carrying both his feelings and the listener’s interpretations. His phrasing is intentionally simple and accessible, ensuring the narrative remains easy to follow, yet he layers that simplicity with touches of poetic imagery that elevate the craft without drifting into overly dense or abstract language.
A similar balancing act unfolds within the production of Never Thought I Could (Part 1). Sonically, the album remains concentrated within a defined stylistic lane, leaning heavily into pop and ballad traditions. The instrumental palette stays relatively consistent across the project, relying on grand pianos, deep bass foundations, and a range of synthesisers that add colour and atmosphere. Even with that homogeneity, the production team finds creative room to manoeuvre.
The arrangements are constantly shifting in shape and energy, with many tracks built around moments of swelling intensity and quiet reflection. Dramatic drops, intricate syncopations, deliberate pauses, and layered instrumental textures help the songs move and breathe without abandoning the familiar framework of pop structure and ballad expectations. Within Never Thought I Could (Part 1), the production’s most important role is to create a stage large enough for the album’s central instrument, Lloyiso’s voice.
That voice stands unmistakably at the heart of the album. Lloyiso’s vocals drive the entire experience, with every creative and technical decision seemingly shaped around presenting them at their fullest potential. He demonstrates remarkable vocal athleticism across the project. His lower register pulls listeners in with warm, soothing tones that feel intimate and controlled. His middle register carries the bulk of the melodic storytelling, delivering lines with clarity, emotional steadiness, and smooth phrasing. Then there are the upper registers, where his voice transforms into something explosive. His powerful belts provide the emotional peaks of many songs, while his piercing falsetto notes float high above the instrumentation, creating those goosebump-inducing moments that define great vocal performances. The range itself is impressive, but the technique behind it is equally striking. Layer upon layer of harmonies often stack behind the lead lines, creating the effect of an orchestral one-man choir that deepens the sonic warmth surrounding each melody.
All of this is brought together through meticulous audio engineering. In much contemporary music, engineering simply aims to balance the sonic landscape and ensure each element sits clearly in the mix. On Never Thought I Could (Part 1), the engineering goes a step further. The technical work not only maintains clarity but also introduces creative flourishes that shape the listening experience.
Lloyiso’s vocals are occasionally flipped, reversed, filtered, or transformed into ghostly background textures that drift through the stereo field. In other moments, they function as subtle instrumental accents, transition sweeps, or harmonised echoes that enrich the atmosphere of a track. These details often appear in fleeting moments that can easily pass unnoticed on first listen. A soft ad-lib here, a gentle hum there, or a faint ululation moving across the speakers. With every repeat listen, new layers reveal themselves, making the album feel increasingly immersive.
Ultimately, that sense of immersion defines what Never Thought I Could (Part 1) becomes. It is not simply a collection of pop songs but a carefully shaped listening experience. Through thoughtful songwriting, disciplined production, and exceptional vocal performance, Lloyiso and his collaborators elevate the project into something closer to auditory art. He had already established himself as a powerful presence among contemporary vocalists, and projects like Seasons demonstrated his ability to deliver impressive vocal performances within song structures.
With Never Thought I Could (Part 1), he takes a step further, evolving from a remarkable singer into a more complete artistic voice. His vocals are no longer just a display of talent but a medium through which a larger creative vision unfolds. If this is only the opening chapter, then the anticipation surrounding Never Thought I Could (Part 2) is already well deserved.
Lyricism – 1.7
Tracklisting – 1.7
Sound Engineering – 1.8
Vocalisation – 1.9
Listening Experience – 1.7
Rating – 8.8/10
Yinoluwa “Yinoluu” Olowofoyeku is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative who finds expression in various media. His music can be found across all platforms and he welcomes interaction on his social media @Yinoluu.