Finding My Favorite
Ravyn Lenae’s long-awaited return produces her best song to date.
by Nathan Russell
February 16th, 2022
Attempting to recreate the joy of discovering Ravyn Lenae's angelic vocals is a near impossible feat. I was lucky enough to be an early spectator to the Chicago artist by way of the rise of Midwest soul prodigy Smino – us St. Louis products don’t get many musical hometown heroes and it took little time after hearing selections such as “Oxygen” to direct all my attention towards Smi's first full length release.
"Glass Flows", the glittery third track from Smino's 2017 debut album blkswn, features perplexing offerings from Lenae – the stunning ease with which she trades off with Smino over the span of the song was enough to sprout a new lead in my listening endeavors.
Luckily, the lightness with which Lenae lands on “Glass Flows” is a trend seen all across 2018’s Crush EP, most notably in “The Night Song” (the thematic overture to your next evening of electing to skip the gathering in favor of a one person party). One of the most intriguing insights one walks away from Crush with has to be the undeniable chemistry of Lenae and Steve Lacy, who assists vocally or instrumentally on every track. That unavoidable match made in heaven is yet again on display in “Skin Tight”, Ravyn Lenae’s first official single in nearly 4 years.
The charm of “Skin Tight” is in your face from the instant you enter the musical journey. Lenae’s whining and washed out vocals over the bare, organic percussive rhythms allow Steve Lacy to make his chordal entrance wherever he pleases. Immediately, Ravyn Lenae bombards the listener with a series of harmonies seemingly carried by the steady bass pattern that Lacy provides.
What most stands out about Lenae’s performance on “Skin Tight”, however, is her ability to so perfectly capture the forlorn tone of the lyrics. Her delivery on the hook (“hold me while you can”) sounds almost beseeching, as if begging the significant other for what time they can spare. The shift in tone during the verse is also carried out marvelously. The delivery of a line like “who could have thought it's not black or white?” shows introspection, maybe even remorse; remorse for the oversimplification of the very confusing feelings and actions produced by love and intimacy. There is something so unsettling yet peaceful in Lenae's approach to this track but it comes off so intentional that you are welcomed to sit in it.
In the evolving landscape of music, it feels as if the expectations bore by artists who take long hiatuses between major releases is ever increasing. Aside from the sheer spectacle that “Skin Tight” is, the song is so delightful because it sounds like it was treated with the tenderness and patience that come from finding one’s next artistic statement, spread over the span of 4 years. If this record is any indicator of things to come, I can only hope to find my next favorite Ravyn Lenae song bundled into a long-form release.