On Aug. 9, rising R&B star Ravyn Lenae released her long-awaited sophomore album “Bird’s Eye.” The record delves into Lenae’s experiences in past relationships, while showcasing the singer’s versatility. Complete with her distinctive and delicate soprano vocals, the new album explores a variety of R&B subgenres and strays away from the more downtempo tunes of Lenae’s debut album “HYPNOS.”
The album’s two collaborations appear in its first half — not long after its rock-inspired opener, “Genius,” on which Lenae emphasizes her willingness to stay in a troubled relationship. The first of these collaborations, “One Wish (feat. Childish Gambino),” focuses instead on Lenae’s turbulent dynamic with her father and the complex feelings of love, sadness and betrayal she faces in his absence. Childish Gambino flawlessly expands upon this complicated relationship by taking on the role of Lenae’s father, singing, “I hope that your one wish does come true / I miss you.”
In the subsequent track, “Dream Girl ” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, the two singers play the role of lovers who are willing to “just give in to the temptation.” In the outro, Lenae speaks seductively about how much she wants her lover, encouraging them to just let go.
Lenae continues to express feelings of desire and showcases her artistic versatility over the reggae-style beat of “Candy,” which is followed by the tracks “Love Is Blind” and “Love Me Not.” The two songs, which were released jointly as the album’s first singles, exhibit Lenae’s talent in storytelling. On “Love Is Blind,” Lenae describes being weighed down by a lover she continues to give second chances to against her best interests. She finally breaks free of the relationship in the second half of the song, repeating “Got you out of my mind.”
The final tracks on the album introduce more positive themes of hope and recovery. On “From Scratch,” over a somber-sounding guitar instrumental, Lenae affirms her commitment to her past lovers and their perseverance through difficulties. “1 of 1” features more electronic beats but continues the themes of commitment and perseverance with Lenae singing, “been with you for two years / And I'm always gonna ask for another one” at the end of the first verse.
Lenae emphasizes the story of her recovery following a breakup on the closing song of the album, “Days.” Although Lenae lost meaningful relationships, she did not lose a piece of herself, as she asserts that she “only lost the days.” As the track — and album — come to an end, Lenae moves on from the traumas and struggles of her turbulent and complex relationships, realizing that she must focus on herself and her future: “Waking up, my eyes are open / The door to the past is closing.”
“Bird’s Eye” gives listeners a deep and intimate look into the tumultuous nature of Lenae’s past relationships. While Lenae isn’t shy about delving into the conflicts she’s had with her loved ones in the past, she ultimately prioritizes moving on from those emotional wounds.
Manav is a junior from Indiana, concentrating in International and Public Affairs. In his free time, he likes attempting the daily Connections puzzle or falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes.
