Album Review: Bird’s Eye by Ravyn Lenae

In partnership with Dahi, Ravyn Lenae's Bird's Eye represents a return to a state of unwavering intuition and self-trust. The album accepts the hardships and detours she has taken to arrive right now.

Courtesy of Atlantic Records.

Ravyn Lenae’s honey-sweet vocals and psychedelic-tinged production create dreamy, atmospheric R&B. The Chicago-born artist burst onto the scene as a teenager in 2015 with the release of her debut EP, Moon Shoes, produced by fellow Zero Fatigue member Monte Booker. Initially released as a free download, Atlantic later picked up the EP for commercial release the following year. With a trio of EPs released before she turned 20, Lenae demonstrated a willingness to experiment with various styles, ranging from soulful house to jagged synth-funk. Solidifying her position as a bold and innovative artist in the R&B scene, her 2018 EP, Crush, and its lead single, “Sticky,” made the biggest impact.

With production split mainly between Steve Lacy, Luke Titus, and Phoelix, her 2022 album, Hypnos, features a mix of atmospheric, psychedelic, and downtempo R&B sounds reminiscent of SZA, Tinashe and Beyoncé’s self-titled album. Lenae’s soaring voice and lush production style are well-suited to this genre. Showcasing her effortlessly cool and emotional depth, the mesmerizing debut elevates Lenae’s artistry to new heights. Thanks to the spoken interludes and the continuity created by the similarities in beats and melodies throughout the record, the album is best experienced as a cohesive whole despite having many standout tracks.

Lenae faced higher stakes going into the next era on her latest music video shoot compared to the typical focus on gorgeous styling and showboating choreography in many pop music videos. In an effort to clean the slate, she cast her absent father as himself in the video for her Childish Gambrino-assisted song “One Wish,” which she wrote about their fractious relationship. This latest chapter adds to the highly emotional bildungsroman of Lenae’s discography, which began in her native Chicago when she was in her mid-teens as showcased with the maxi-singles of the alt-rock “Love Me Not” and the dreamy “Love Is Blind.”

Lenae’s luminously pretty lines light up every song on her new album Bird’s Eye, just as they did with her debut and a string of EPs and mixtapes before that, showcasing her astonishing talent as a writer of melody, perhaps the best of her generation at the age of 25. Created in collaboration with Dahi, a well-versed, underrated producer, it goes through various genres, from roots reggae to perky alt-pop to cosmic R&B and beyond. “Pilot” is a particularly stunning song that addresses the theme of accepting uncertainty. The album’s winning melodies are mapped onto lyrics that explore every type of love affair, situations, and human tangle imaginable, not just with family members but also with soulmates, scumbags, and everyone in between.

In a striking departure from the abundant soothing melodies of her debut, Ravyn Lenae’s sophomore record Bird’s Eye embraces daring experimentation and an unpredictable tracklist. From the guitar-driven, indie-pop coolness of “Genius” to the digitized, SEGA Genesis-esque beat of “1 of 1”, Lenae’s transformation is evident. She unleashes the full potential of her voice, commandeering each song rather than confining it to entrancing whispers. “1 of 1” depicts a shapeless, unrestrained love, with Lenae allowing her partner to lead her anywhere, even if it means leaving the movies at the start. Though unfamiliar territory for Lenae, it somehow fits.

Amidst the innovation, Bird’s Eye still offers exquisitely sung, mellow R&B. “Candy,” a reggaeton delight, celebrates love’s simplicity, mirroring its lyrics. “Genius” dismisses petty relationship disputes, pondering, “What’s love without the conversation? What’s love without some confrontation?” “Bad Idea” revisits the futuristic, throbbing landscapes of Lenae’s earlier work, and “Dream Girl” with Ty Dolla $ign gracefully explores themes of desire and emotional surrender, crafting a narrative that captures the immediacy and intensity of newfound attraction. These tracks provide a grounded, meaningful flow, demonstrating Lenae’s enduring ability to enthrall.

Bird’s Eye presents a more turbulent Lenae grappling with self-doubt and personal rejection. The album offers refreshingly candid insights into Lenae’s inner world, a meticulous account of life experiences absent from her previous work. By the album’s conclusion, Lenae has rediscovered herself, wasting no time on regret in her pursuit of self-actualization, as evidenced by the final track, “Days.” Lenae’s aversion to stagnation is clear. While it would have been simple to rely on the success of her well-received, atmospheric debut, this second album portrays an artist willing to challenge herself.

Though it could benefit from greater length or cohesion, few sophomore projects are as fearless or, intriguingly, as relaxed. Bird’s Eye is a remarkable offering, signaling Ravyn Lenae’s ascent.

Great (★★★★☆)

Favorite Track(s): “Candy,” “1 of 1,” “Pilot”