Five years after her debut breakthrough,
Daya returned with her second EP,
The Difference, a drastic makeover that presents a more authentic version of the young pop singer/songwriter. Maturing beyond the kid-friendly bops of
Sit Still, Look Pretty, she spent the years between releases embracing electronic, synth-based dance-pop, resulting in a sound that is less
Alessia Cara and more
Halsey. In addition to the sonic evolution, her lyrics are also truer to herself, as evidenced on the sublime pop gem "Bad Girl," whose neon synths ride the chorus "Need a bad girl/'Cause the bad boys just don't cut it" (a club-friendly
JVKE remix is tacked on at the end). The pulsing "First Time" hypnotizes with
Diplo-esque production, while the title track amplifies the sleek, lean alt pop of late-era
PVRIS, filtering heartbreak through an electro-friendly four-on-the-four beat complete with Auto-Tune and handclaps. On "Tokyo Drifting," she evokes the aforementioned
Halsey and her collaboration with
Marshmello ("Be Kind"), a bittersweet, contemplative moment to break up the dancefloor-friendly material that elevates the EP to the top of her catalog. Ending on a pastoral note,
Daya showcases her range with the acoustic "Montana," a tender snapshot that finds her escaping to a simpler place with her cowgirl. It's a sweet closer to a subtly brave effort, which reintroduces the artist in her real form: comfortable in her skin and free to exist on her own terms.
The Difference is a reclamation of self that unveils the next stage in
Daya's maturity, one as a confident and focused artist. ~ Neil Z. Yeung