Toronto R&B artist Ebhoni is back with an intimate video for her dancehall-infused single, “MIA.” Directed by Othello Gray, the video is a fittingly confident visual for the track, featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the 20-year-old singer dancing along in a studio and out on the dark city streets as she reminds everyone that “bad gyals do it well.”
The Alex Lustig and Merna-produced track remains inviting and mellow, warmed by dancehall’s anthemic energy and the neon glow of pop music. But this video adds a new dimension to the low-key anthem to sexual confidence, underscoring Ebhoni’s effortless cool and limitless poise as she dances with friends in a number of different stunning outfits. Also, she hangs out with a horse in front of a beauty shop—just as a small, surreal flex.
“MIA” is Ebhoni’s first solo single of 2020, but it follows hot on the heels of her vibrant July collab with Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire, “Never Lonely.” Over the last few years, her string of animated, confident R&B singles has won both commercial and critical success—amidst a prolific 2019 run, Pitchfork wrote that she’s “reclaiming the Toronto R&B crown for women.”
Throughout her career, Ebhoni has made a point to partner specifically with Black-owned businesses, support other women artists and workers, and to uplift the local LGBTQ+ community, which she’s done through efforts like hosting Pride Toronto. In its own way, “MIA” fits into this side of her career, offering self-empowerment in the form of a sensual heater of a single. It’s also further proof that Ebhoni is a must-follow. Stay tuned for more soon.