Hey everyone! Today, I want to chat about some new music releases that I’m really excited about, specifically from Ravyn Lenae.
Ravyn Lenae just released a couple of new singles from her upcoming project, one called “Love is Blind” and another titled “Love Me Not.” I’m absolutely obsessed with “Love is Blind” – it’s been on repeat for me lately.
I’ve been following Ravyn Lenae for a few years now. I first got into her music through her album “Hypnos” after discovering her collaboration with Steve Lacy on the song “Skin Tight.” That track was on constant replay, and I ended up loving the whole “Hypnos” album. Her voice is a unique blend that reminds me of a mix between Janet Jackson and Doja Cat, but she definitely has her own distinctive R&B sound.
I’m really looking forward to her new project and highly recommend checking out her new singles, especially “Love is Blind.” Ravyn Lenae is such a talented artist, and I hope she gets the recognition she truly deserves this time around.
Let’s talk about Flo because they just dropped another single called “Caught Up.” Flo never misses with their music. I love every one of their songs, but “Caught Up” is something special. In my opinion, it’s probably their best single yet. The production is absolutely insane. I had to look up who produced it, and it turns out Pop Wansel, Jay Versace, and Emma were behind it. They went all out! The beat is amazing, and finding out Sevyn Streeter has writing credits was a cool surprise. The song is fantastic—the vocals are stunning, and the harmonies are out of this world. That breakdown and the key change in the bridge? A whole sonic experience. I love that Flo doesn’t skip out on these details because they make a song stand out. I’m a huge fan of both the song and the group Flo, and I think they deserve to be even bigger.
Another artist I want to highlight is Kehlani. Her album “Crash” is dropping on June 21st this year, and so far, I really like her singles. One of my favorites is “After Hours,” an upbeat dance track that samples “Move Your Body.” Her latest single, “Next 2 U,” is also great. The production on this one stands out, with its heavy bassline, 808s, and synths that remind me of Kanye West’s style. The song’s lyrics about standing by the one you love are powerful, and it also reflects Kehlani’s support for Palestine.
The conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine has escalated recently, with innocent people losing their lives and seeking refuge from the danger. It’s heartbreaking to see families and children affected by this. Kehlani is raising awareness about the situation, and the proceeds from “Next 2 U” are going to a foundation that helps Palestinian, Congolese, and Sudanese families in crisis. I admire Kehlani for speaking out and encouraging her peers in the entertainment industry to do the same. This is a significant issue that will be remembered in history, and it’s not something we should ignore.
Let’s talk about Normani. She finally dropped her much-awaited single “Candy Paint,” and fans have been dying to hear it. I have to say, it’s super addictive. The song is really catchy, and I’ve been playing it non-stop. The first time you hear it, you might think, “Okay, this is good,” but the more you listen, the better it gets. I really think this song would be even better with a video. She mentioned that visuals are on the way, but I wish she had released the song and the video together because Normani really shines when she does that.
I love the song; it’s a strong single for her, with a great uptempo pop and R&B vibe. I hope she has more songs like this on her album because she really nails uptempo tracks. But I’m a bit confused by how she’s rolling this out. The promotion has been almost non-existent, and there was no advance notice about “Candy Paint” dropping, which is a bit worrying. It makes me wonder if she and her team are holding back on promotion or if her label isn’t giving her the budget she needs.
When she released “Wild Side,” she had to spend $1 million of her own money on the video because her label, RCA, didn’t do much. This makes me think RCA might not be giving her a decent budget. Normani and her team have to be smart with their budget. Maybe they’re saving the big push for the album release, but I think she could do more on social media and at least have a video and performance ready before the album comes out. Just my two cents, but I’ll still support her. I really like the two singles she’s put out, and I’m excited to see the “Candy Paint” music video. Normani is amazing with visuals, and her music videos always help boost her streams.
Lastly, I want to talk about Willow Smith’s album “Empathogen.” I listened to it while driving and really enjoyed it. It’s different from my usual music choices. Willow, known for her alternative rock style, experiments with jazz, funk, and R&B on this album. The instrumentation, lyrics, and themes felt like I was listening to her personal diary. It was intimate and unique, and I loved the variety of sounds and her vocal expressions. My favorite songs were “Symptom of Life,” “The Fear is Not Real,” “False Self,” and “Run Between She and I.” I can see this album getting Grammy nominations, maybe even for Album of the Year, especially with Jon Batiste on it. He’s a Grammy favorite, having won Album of the Year before, so Willow might be aiming for big awards too.
Another album I want to review is Ayra Starr’s “The Year I Turned 21.” I really enjoyed this album; it’s one of the best I’ve heard this year. The album has a great vibe, and I love how Ayra blends different genres like Afrobeat, Caribbean, R&B, hip-hop, and Latin influences. It offers a unique mix of sounds.
I appreciated the tone of the album, her moments of self-reflection, and her display of self-assurance, determination, and independence. Unlike her previous album, “19 & Dangerous,” which had a moodier feel with heartbreak songs, this album features love songs with a carefree attitude. If love doesn’t work out, she just moves on, and I liked that perspective.
There are no bad or weak tracks on this album. Some of my favorites include “Goodbye” featuring Asa, “Commando” featuring Coco Jones and Anitta, “Control,” “Bad Vibes,” “Last Heartbreak Song” featuring Giveon, “Orun,” and “Commas.” The whole album is fantastic, and if you enjoy Afrobeat, you’ll definitely love this album.