Ravyn Lenae
{{short description|American singer (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ravyn Lenae
| image = Ravyn.jpg
| alt = Face shot of Lenae in three-quarter view with strong lipstick and neutral desaturated lighting.
| caption = Ravyn Lenae at Camp Flog Gnaw 2023
| birth_name = Ravyn Lenae Washington
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|01|22}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| origin =
| genre = {{flat list|
}}
| occupation = {{flat list|
- Singer
- songwriter
}}
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2014–present
| label = {{flat list|
- Atlantic
- Three Twenty Three
}}
| current_member_of = {{flat list|
}}
}}
Ravyn Lenae Washington (born January 22, 1999) is an American R&B singer-songwriter from Chicago who is currently signed to Atlantic Records and the Three Twenty Three Music Group. She is also a member of the musical collective Zero Fatigue.{{cite news|last1=Bekoe|title=Atlantic New Signee Ravyn Lenae release 'Midnight Moonlight' EP|url=https://www.illanoize.co/home/atlantic-new-signee-ravyn-lenae-release-midnight-moonlight-ep|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Illa Noize|date=March 3, 2017}} Her debut EP, Moon Shoes, was released independently in 2015 and reissued by Atlantic Records in 2016. Her follow-up EP, Midnight Moonlight, was released in 2017. In addition to performing at several music festivals, Lenae has also toured with SZA on her Ctrl Tour{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7857764/sza-ctrl-tour-dates|title=SZA Announces Extensive 'CTRL' Tour|magazine=Billboard|date=July 6, 2017|access-date=7 May 2019}} and Noname on her Telefone Tour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/11/14/noname-telefone-tour-announcement|title=Noname Announces The Telefone Tour|website=The FADER|access-date=7 May 2019}}
She released her debut album, Hypnos, on May 20, 2022, and her second album, Bird's Eye, on August 9, 2024, to critical acclaim.
Early life and education
Washington was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother is from Panama, with her maternal grandfather being part of a doo wop musical group in the country.{{cite news|last1=Douze|first1=Khalila|title=How Ravyn Lenae Came of Age During a Chicago Renaissance|url=https://www.ssense.com/en-us/editorial/fashion/ravyn-lenae-interview-hypnos-chicago|work=Ssense|date=October 21, 2022}}{{cite news|title=Ravyn Lenae, Musician|url=https://intothegloss.com/2019/08/ravyn-lenae-beauty-routine/|work=Into The Gloss|date=August 24, 2019}} She was raised as a member of the Pullman Christian Reformed Church on the far South Side of the city. Her grandfather, Richard Williams, served as the pastor of the congregation for 30 years. She credits her participation in worship at the church with helping to develop her interests and abilities in music.{{cite news|last1=Dykstra|first1=Lori|title=Pullman CRC Musician Makes Rolling Stone's Top Ten|url=https://thebanner.org/news/2017/04/pullman-crc-musician-makes-rolling-stone-s-top-ten |accessdate=July 9, 2017|work=The Banner|date=April 7, 2017}} In middle school at Roseland Christian School, Lenae began writing her own songs.{{cite news|last1=Bianchi|first1=Laura|title=Rolling Stone says you should know this local singer|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170720/ISSUE03/170719839/rolling-stone-says-you-should-know-this-local-singer|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Crain's Chicago Business|date=July 20, 2017}} She would go on to attend the Chicago High School for the Arts, where she studied classical music.{{cite news|last1=Drake|first1=David|title=Zero Fatigue: Chicago's Next Hip-Hop Visionaries {{!}} Pitchfork|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/9802-zero-fatigue-chicagos-next-hip-hop-visionaries/|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Pitchfork|date=February 4, 2016}} She graduated from the school in May 2017 at 18 years of age.{{cite news|last1=Julious|first1=Britt|title=How to Balance High School and Touring? Ask Ravyn Lenae|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2017/Ravyn-Lenae/|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Chicago|date=May 24, 2017}}
Musical career
As a sophomore in high school, Lenae spent $300 for a studio session that would ultimately produce her first single, "Greetings". Soon after, in 2015, she was featured on Monte Booker's song, "Baby".{{cite news|last1=Galil|first1=Leor|title=Singer and Zero Fatigue member Ravyn Lenae balances R&B aspirations with high school|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/singer-and-zero-fatigue-member-ravyn-lenae-balances-randb-aspirations-with-high-school/Content?oid=25362879|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Chicago Reader|date=February 2, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Dombal|first1=Ryan|title="Baby" [ft. Ravyn Lenae] by Monte Booker Review {{!}} Pitchfork|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/17801-monte-booker-baby-ft-ravyn-lenae/|date=November 5, 2015|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Pitchfork}} Booker and Lenae along with rapper, Smino, formed the original core of the music collective, Zero Fatigue, which was brought together by Chris "Classick" Innumerable at his recording studio, Classick Studios.{{cite news|last1=Julious|first1=Britt|title=Smino still enjoying his big year|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/ct-chicago-music-local-sounds-ott-1014-20161011-story.html|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Chicago Tribune|date=October 13, 2016}} Lenae's first EP, Moon Shoes, was originally released as a free download in August 2015, but was later reissued by Atlantic Records and the Three Twenty Three Music Group in 2016.{{cite magazine|last1=Reeves|first1=Mosi|title=10 New Artists You Need to Know Now|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-march-2017-w471328/ravyn-lenae-w471337|accessdate=November 17, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 15, 2017}} It drew praise from critics for her "fluid vocals and spare, poetic lyrics."{{cite news|last1=Dampier|first1=Cindy|title=Chicago singer Ravyn Lenae Washington talks singing secrets, vintage shopping|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/magazine/ct-mag-spring-2017-style--tribe-20170228-story.html|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Chicago Tribune|date=March 1, 2017}}
In 2016, Lenae was officially signed to Atlantic Records.{{cite news|title=Ravyn Lenae – Sleep Talking|url=https://singersroom.com/content/2016-11-05/ravyn-lenae-sleep-talking/|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=SingersRoom|date=November 5, 2016}} She also appeared as a featured performer on Mick Jenkins' album The Healing Component{{cite news|last1=Robertson|first1=Darryl|title=Mick Jenkins Thinks Love Conquers All on New Album, 'The Healing Component'|url=http://www.vibe.com/2016/09/mick-jenkins-the-healing-component/|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Vibe|date=September 26, 2016}} and on Noname's song "Forever".{{cite news|last1=Siber|first1=Alex|title=The Making of Noname's 'Telefone'|url=https://www.yahoo.com/music/making-nonames-telefone-152453906.html|accessdate=November 17, 2017|publisher=Yahoo! Music|date=October 4, 2016}} She would go on to tour with and open for Noname on her Telefone Tour from January to March 2017. Lenae also performed at WBEZ's Winter Block Party alongside fellow members of the underground collective Medicine Woman: Drea Smith, Via Rosa, and Jean Deaux.{{cite news|last1=Galil|first1=Leor|last2=Nelson|first2=J. R.|title=This year's Winter Block Party celebrates women in Chicago hip-hop|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/winter-block-party-jamila-psych-frozen-mind-fpe-zigtebra/Content?oid=25248790|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Chicago Reader|date=January 25, 2017}}
She released her second EP Midnight Moonlight on March 3, 2017.{{cite news|last1=McKinney|first1=Jessica|title=Ravyn Lenae Soars on the Visuals For Her "Alive" Video|url=http://www.vibe.com/2017/02/ravyn-lenae-alive-video/|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Vibe|date=February 22, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Mack|first1=Wallace|title=Understanding The Divine Feminine in Smino's 'blkswn'|url=https://www.vibe.com/2017/03/smino-blkswn-women-features/|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Vibe|date=March 29, 2017}} Later that month, she performed at SXSW, was featured on Smino's "Glass Flows," and was listed by Rolling Stone as one of "10 New Artists You Need to Know." In the following three months, she would go on to perform at several other festivals, including Mamby on the Beach in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood and Culture Shock in Purchase, New York.{{cite news|last1=Viola|first1=Joe|title=Ravyn Lenae plans to lay a blanket over the globe|url=http://officemagazine.net/ravyn-lenae-plans-lay-blanket-over-globe|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Office Magazine|date=May 9, 2017}} Beginning in August 2017, Lenae opened for SZA on her Ctrl Tour. The tour ended in December 2017.{{cite news|last1=Fountain|first1=Rasheena|title=There's No Box For Ravyn Lenae Or Chicago's Music|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/theres-no-box-for-ravyn-lenae-or-chicagos-music_us_5a091701e4b0f1dc729a6c63|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=HuffPost|date=November 17, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Gracie|first1=Bianca|title=SZA Announces The CTRL Tour: See the Dates|url=https://www.fuse.tv/2017/07/sza-ctrl-tour-dates-smino-ravyn-lenae|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Fuse|date=July 5, 2017}} On February 9, she released her third EP, entirely produced by Steve Lacy, titled Crush.{{cite web|last1=Sanfiorenzo|first1=Dimas|title=Ravyn Lenae Announces 'Crush' EP, Executive Produced by Steve Lacy|url=http://www.okayplayer.com/music/ravyn-lenae-crush-ep.html|website=okayplayer|date=December 12, 2017|accessdate=December 15, 2017}}
On February 1, 2022, she released "Skin Tight"{{Cite magazine |last=Blanchet |first=Brenton |date=2022-05-18 |title=Make Way For Ravyn Lenae |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/ravyn-lenae-hypnos-interview-1235072742/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} with Steve Lacy, the first single of her debut album, Hypnos. Following, she released her debut album{{Cite web |title=Ravyn Lenae's 'Hypnos' Is A Cosmic R&B Contemplation |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/ravyn-lenae-hypnos-trip-through-the-cosmos-steve-lacy |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=Grammy.com}} on May 20, 2022, which featured vocals and production from Monte Booker, Steve Lacy, Kaytranada, Fousheé, Mereba, Smino, Sango, Luke Titus, IAmNobodi, Phoelix and Teo Halm. She announced a tour spanning 16 cities beginning at Neumos in Seattle, Washington, with special guest, Unusual Demont, opening for some concerts on the tour.
Lenae released singles "Love Me Not" and "Love Is Blind" on May 3, 2024. These releases were the first of four songs released in the lead up to her second album, Bird's Eye, with "Dream Girl" with Ty Dolla Sign and "One Wish" featuring Childish Gambino following soon after. On August 9, 2024, Lenae released Bird's Eye, and announced a tour with the same name spanning 12 cities and seven countries.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-15 |title=Here Is Ravyn Lenae's 'Bird's Eye Tour' Setlist |url=https://uproxx.com/music/ravyn-lenae-birds-eye-tour-setlist/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Uproxx |language=en-US}}
On February 27, 2025, Lenae announced that she would be joining artists Olivia Dean and Amber Mark on an extra leg of Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet Tour.{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=2025-02-27 |title=Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' Tour Is Getting Longer and Sweeter With New U.S. Dates |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sabrina-carpenter-short-n-sweet-tour-2025-north-america-dates-1235281659/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}
Artistry
In Jeune Afrique, Eva Sauphie described Lenae as a "cross between Kelela, an Azealia Banks dipped in honey and a teen spirit version Kelis," combining genres including "nu soul, electro-jazz, chamber pop, and ambient hip-hop."{{cite news|last1=Sauphie|first1=Eva|title=Musique : Ravyn Lenae, la nouvelle Kelis|url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/361270/culture/musique-ravyn-lenae-nouvelle-kelis/|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Jeune Afrique|date=September 29, 2016|language=fr-FR}} The Austin American-Statesman described her style as "a watercolor R&B platter with startling depth."{{cite news|last1=Stith|first1=Deborah Sengupta|title=SXSW 2017: 11 soul and blues acts to catch|url=http://www.mystatesman.com/entertainment/music/sxsw-2017-soul-and-blues-acts-catch/p57iDsSyh5U7CZvwTo8oTI/|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Austin American-Statesman|date=March 7, 2017}} Lenae has mentioned OutKast, Janet Jackson, Timbaland, Brandy, India.Arie, and Erykah Badu among her musical influences. {{Cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Brenton Blanchet,Andrew |date=2022-05-18 |title=Make Way For Ravyn Lenae |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/ravyn-lenae-hypnos-interview-1235072742/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}Writing for Pitchfork, Ryan Dombal reviewed Lenae's performance on Monte Booker's "Baby" as "channel[ing] both Billie [Holiday] and Erykah [Badu] on the acoustic-guitar ballad, which crackles like Lauryn Hill's Unplugged as remixed by the ghost of J Dilla."
Comparing Lenae's two EPs, Mosi Reeves of Rolling Stone said Midnight Moonlight "delves into more romantic concerns with the same quiet grace" first heard on Moon Shoes in which she "sings about life as a dreamy, sometimes-melancholy teenager in a softly assertive voice." Marcus J. Moore's Pitchfork review of Midnight Moonlight noted that it "carries a methodical late-night vibe suitable for Quiet Storm radio" particularly when compared to the "far brighter" energy on Moon Shoes.{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Marcus J.|title=Ravyn Lenae – Midnight Moonlight EP|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/23183-midnight-moonlight-ep/|date=April 25, 2017|accessdate=November 17, 2017|work=Pitchfork}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:25em;"| Album details |
| scope="row"| Hypnos
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Bird's Eye
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of EPs with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:25em;"| EP details |
| scope="row" | Moon Shoes
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" | Midnight Moonlight
|
|
| scope="row" | Crush
|
|
=Charted singles=
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://ravynlenae.com/ Official website]
- [http://wgnradio.com/2017/02/07/live-from-studio-435-ravyn-lenae/ Interview with Ravyn Lenae] on WGN Radio
{{Ravyn Lenae|state=expanded}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lenae, Ravyn}}
Category:American contemporary R&B singers
Category:American neo soul singers
Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
Category:African-American women singer-songwriters
Category:American women singer-songwriters
Category:American people of Panamanian descent
Category:21st-century American women singers
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters