Chicago singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae has released her new album 'Blue Island', a record that reviewers say showcases an enormous stylistic range and positions her as a leader in pop, R&B and alternative music.
The album follows the success of Lenae's 2024 single 'Love Me Not', which became a Top 5 hit in both the US and UK. That track appeared on her previous album 'Bird's Eye', which featured collaborations with Childish Gambino and Ty Dolla $ign, and mixed retro-soul with distorted guitar arpeggios and a catchy chorus. A remix of the song featured British bedroom-pop artist Rex Orange County.
Some fans of Lenae's earlier, more experimental work - such as her 2015 EP 'Moon Shoes' and her 2022 album 'Hypnos' - saw 'Love Me Not' as a bid for mainstream acceptance. The track sparked an online backlash in which Lenae was accused of being an 'industry plant'. Lenae has said the criticism went beyond the music, with people questioning her identity and Blackness.
On 'Blue Island', Lenae is said to evoke a wide range of influences, from the band Suicide to electronic producer Squarepusher, from grunge to Janet Jackson. One review calls the record a clear sign that Lenae is an obvious leader in whatever genre she chooses to explore.