On it really isn’t what it is, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Manana crafts a rich lyrical mosaic, striking a delicate balance between clear-eyed realism and romantic idealism. Building on the nuanced storytelling he has refined since 2020’s In the beginning was the end, the Eswatini-born artist delivers a suite of reflections on love’s shifting seasons, enveloped in instrumentation that draws effortlessly from alternative R&B and neo-soul. The opening track, “No!” introduces Manana in an assertive stance, declaring hard-earned lessons over rolling percussion. On “Talking Stages”—the first of the record’s recurring weekday motifs—he yearns for deeper commitment beneath subdued keys. Resisting overly sanitized, picture-perfect sentiments, Manana illustrates how relationships are ultimately forged through shared space, patience, and vulnerability. “I know the sun sets on good days too/I tried to replace you,” he croons over the plaintive strings of “Sun Sets on Beautiful Days.” While “Don’t Say the Words” pleads for promises to be honored, “Where We Met” drapes nostalgic recollections in warm, jazzy tones. By the time closer “Remember Me” swells to its parting confession—“I don’t wanna leave”—the album has arrived at a poignant revelation: Sometimes, the enduring pull of love outlasts the very boundaries we set to keep us safe.