Aqyila - Most Wanted (Official Video)

Picture Credit: Matthew Guido

Rising R&B superstar Aqyila opens a new chapter, with the release of the slinky and infectious, Afro-Caribbean-inspired “Most Wanted,” giving summer an Island flavoured soundtrack.

The song, co-written by Aqyila and produced by Kasey Phillips (Ciara, Chris Brown, Lil Baby, Machel Montano), is an assured and undeniably sexy summer jam from one of Canada’s most confident R&B hitmakers. “Most Wanted” began in the studio with a guitar riff that Aqyila used to build an Afro-Caribbean earworm layer by layer. “All [of the collaborators] are Caribbean, and so we wanted to do a Caribbean-leaning song,” Aqyila says. “It was so nice just being in the room with people who are from the Islands and get it.”

“Most Wanted” is accompanied by a showstopping music video, directed by Nathan Burland (Fela), premiered on BET Soul and BET Jams. Burland says, “the video originated from the vibe of: we want to dance. The song is infectious; there’s a beat. The challenge was weaving in a narrative which doesn’t take away from that infectious beat, but also enriches that idea of being most wanted.” Aqyila is both wanted and wanting – starring in a police lineup and as the interrogator of her object of desire. The video explodes in a party, featuring Tribal Carnival’s Celena Seusahai alongside other Caribbean talents. The result is the perfect visual accompaniment to the song of the summer, celebrating Aqyila’s Jamaican roots and uplifting a community of creators and collaborators.

Tribal Carnival (the pre-eminent mas camp, producing costumes for Caribbean festivals across North America) and Aqyila continue to collaborate in Nike’s upcoming Carnival-inspired national social campaign, featuring “Most Wanted” as the soundtrack to Carnival. You can check out the collaboration here.

“Most Wanted” follows on the astonishing viral success of “Bloom,” and a 2024 that included a JUNO Award for Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for her song “Hello.” “Most Wanted” showcases Aqyila’s deft vocals and a new depth of songwriting ability as the artist continues to up her game and prominence.