“Watching who I’ve become, who’s my tribe?” Ravyn Lenae wondered aloud on 2022’s HYPNOS. That gossamer, hypnagogic debut established her as an alternative R&B savant bridging the legacies of Janet Jackson and Little Dragon. Like a nectar-drunk hummingbird, her voice swooped, hovered, and soared across that record’s moonlit arrangements. But as the lyric hinted, that agility was fueled by pressure as much as style. Reflecting on her journey during the promotion of her 2024 follow-up, Bird’s Eye, Lenae noted that she had previously placed restrictive expectations on her own creative output. With her latest release, Blue Island, the singer is finally shedding those self-imposed rules.
Expanding the Sonic Palette
Named after her hometown in Illinois, Blue Island serves as a testament to Lenae’s desire to flex new muscles and offload genre anxieties. Reuniting with producer DJ Dahi, the album leans into an airy, lambent soundscape. Supported by multi-instrumentalist Ely Rise and guitarist Flanafi, Dahi crafts ’80s-inspired arrangements that erupt with color and simmer into mellow, functional grooves. Unlike the pastiche-heavy trends often seen in modern pop, the production here is designed to uplift Lenae’s sinuous vocals, nudging her into unexpected melodic pockets.
Vocal Fluidity and Artistic Growth
The change of scenery bears fruit throughout the record. On the opener “Handle,” Lenae channels the spirit of Cyndi Lauper, moving from full-throated bays to a delicate, electric guitar-backed hook. Her vocal versatility is perhaps most evident on “Never Let Me Go,” where she oscillates between breathy, low registers and a springy, Mariah Carey-esque singsong. This rhythmic and textural flux makes it sound as though she is duetting with herself, a technique she pushes even further on the pop-centric “In & Out.”
Finding Peace in the Unusual
While the quest for artistic permission occasionally feels front-of-mind—particularly on tracks like “Babygirl” and the Dominic Fike collaboration “Reputation”—the album shines when Lenae stops overthinking and lets her craft take center stage. On the gentle kiss-off “Wish You Well,” she sings, “In the unusual I am finding peace/I’m letting go now, let go of me,” capturing the essence of her current creative philosophy. Ultimately, Blue Island succeeds when Lenae embraces the chaos of love and the fluidity of her own voice, proving that regardless of the genre she toys with, she remains a compelling and singular talent.