Jelani Aryeh Covers The xx in His Nostalgic Reinterpretation of "Angels"

image

Photo by Brandon Kwon

Jelani Aryeh has a gift for creating music that's blissfully nostalgic. After two albums Suburban Destinesia and Helvetica, Aryeh has built himself a dedicated fanbase. His 2020 single  "Stella Brown" gained viral success for its optimistic and upbeat tone along with its incredibly catchy hook. Aryeh is back and building off this momentum by paying homage to Alternative Pop legends The xx.  

His new single  "Angels" is a contemporary reimagining of The xx's song by the same title. "This song brought me back to the year 2012," explains Aryeh. "That was around junior high and I think lyrics were just starting to hit me. Some part of me still wishes I could listen to these songs with an unconscious, unassuming perspective where songs just made me feel and not think."  

Jelani Aryeh puts his own modern spin on the classic with his smooth and emotive vocal performance, but he still effectively captures what made the original so attention grabbing.  "Angels" is an atmospheric and envelope-pushing track with Aryeh's reinterpretation giving the throwback new perspective. Although the track is a deviation from Aryeh's self-written material,  "Angels" is another beautifully performed track in his growing discography.  

Listen to  "Angels" by Jelani Aryeh below:

Related Articles

KATSEYE's "Internet Girl" Is a Self-Aware Viral Hit in the Making

KATSEYE's "Internet Girl" Is a Self-Aware Viral Hit in the Making

January 8, 2026 "Internet Girl" captures the complexities of visibility in the digital age, wherein confidence and critique coexist within the same doomscroll.
Author: Alessandra Rincon
pop
Glom Confronts Aging With Equal Parts Dread and Excitement [Q&A]

Glom Confronts Aging With Equal Parts Dread and Excitement [Q&A]

January 8, 2026 As he walked through the cold streets of NYC, Glom took the time to tell us all about his musical inspirations, and go to coffee order.
Author: Rebeccah Blau
Zimmer90 Invite Us Into the Inner Workings of Their Album, "Interior"

Zimmer90 Invite Us Into the Inner Workings of Their Album, "Interior"

December 27, 2025 After hearing the speed run of tempo-driven electro-pop that is Interior, we wanted to know so much more, and here are the results.
Author: DJ Connor
pop