Canada, Ottawa-based artist Ayda Khan crafts soulful, emotionally charged music powered by her rich vocals. She first caught attention on Oprah.com’s “World’s Most Talented Kids” (2009), and then earned “Star of Tomorrow” at New York’s Apollo Theater (2011). Between 2010 and 2013, she appeared on TVO Kids’ The Prime Radicals and performed at the Pan Am Games Brand Launch (2012).
Now, Ayda steps into her own with her latest single Stay Away, released on 27 October, 2025 and produced by Grammy-nominated Roy Hamilton III. It is the first glimpse into her upcoming EP, titled If All Goes Well.
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Stay Away captures the weight of self-confrontation with piercing honesty. Opening with “I’ve been so scared to live my life, this isn’t fair, why can’t I face the realness?”, the song immediately places vulnerability front and centre. The fear feels tangible—like she’s standing at the edge of her own reflection, unsure whether to step forward or turn away.
Later, when she repeats “Free, free… free from pain today,” her voice becomes its own echo chamber, as though she’s trying to convince herself that freedom is possible. However, she undercuts that hope with “But I need to stay away, cuz it’s all an illusion,” revealing the heartbreak beneath the resilience. By the time she pleads “Please don’t carry on,” the weight of loneliness, “I feel alone in this cold world,” settles like the song’s quietest truth.
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Musically, the track balances depth and restraint. The beat moves steadily beneath her voice but never overshadows it. Instead, the stripped-back production lets her vocals lead, every crack and inflection amplifying the song’s ache. Yet, the layered refrain becomes almost hypnotic, looping in the listener’s mind.
Ultimately, Stay Away thrives on the tension between hope and cynicism. It’s the kind of track that plays as you sit in a dim bar on New Year’s Eve, replaying the year in your head, half-believing the moment isn’t even real.
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Figuring out my path while actively plotting ten others. Serious about my dreams with somewhat chaotic ambition. Will do anything for cats.
