Ravyn Lenae is back with her sophomore album, Bird’s Eye.
The 11-track project was executive produced by Dahi, also known as DJ Dahi, who has collaborated with artists such as SZA, Dixson, Maeta, Brent Faiyaz, and Kali Uchis.
“One of the most beautiful things about making Bird’s Eye was the amount of reflection that was required to truly tell a story that felt clear and honest. Digging into the nooks + crannies of my journey so far was so rewarding in many ways, but it’s most meaningful when it manifests into tangible change in my life,” Lenae said in a statement.
The build-up to Lenae’s second major release for Atlantic Records started during the second half of 2024 with the dual release of “Love Is Blind” and “Love Me Not.”
Collaborative singles with Ty Dolla $ign (“Dream Girl“) and Childish Gambino (“One Wish“) followed shortly thereafter.
Lenae told Grammy.com that the latter track was partly inspired by her estranged relationship with her father.
She also provided an update on where she and her father stand at this moment amid the song’s release and hearing Bird’s Eye.
“We started repairing or rekindling our relationship maybe two years ago,” Lenae said. “The making of Bird’s Eye was at its peak and I felt like it was important for me to have a song on the album that addressed my relationship with him in order for me to release it and start to move on in a positive way.”
She added, “So sharing the song with him, inviting him to be in the music video was huge for us. And then, even after debriefing about maybe some feelings that came up when he heard certain lyrics or when he saw certain scenes in the video, it just opened up this really honest, candid dialogue between us, and I couldn’t be more grateful that I have this outlet.”
Lenae’s new project follows Hypnos, a 16-track album that was released on May 20, 2022. The acclaimed set includes features from Steve Lacy, Fousheé, Mereba and Smino.
It also features “Skin Tight,” a collaboration with Lacy that earned Lenae her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Hypnos ranked at No. 3 on Rated R&B’s 30 Best R&B Albums of 2022 list.
“Upon the release of her 2018 EP Crush, Lenae was considered the next evolution of alt-R&B. Taking Hypnos into consideration, she made it worth the four-year wait. Lenae takes us through her world, sharing intimate moments while retaining some allure over the tranquil arrangements,” wrote Jakori Beauchamp.
On Sept. 26, Lenae will perform at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheater in support of Omar Apollo, before officially launching her Bird’s Eye Live Tour in early October.
The tour will cover North America and Europe, with North American dates from Oct. 5 through Oct. 26. She will begin the European leg on Nov. 10 in Denmark and end on Nov. 19 in Manchester. Tickets are available now on her official website.
Stream Ravyn Lenae’s new album Bird’s Eye below.
Ravyn Lenae – Bird Eye’s Live Tour 2024 Dates
Sept 26 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheater *
Oct 5 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
Oct 8 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Oct 10 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
Oct 12 – Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
Oct 16 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
Oct 18 – Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn
Oct 20 – Dallas, TX @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
Oct 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
Oct 26 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Nov 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Vega
Nov 11 – Berlin, Germany @ Saalchen
Nov 12 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Bitterzoet
Nov 15 – Paris, France @ La Machine du Moulin Rouge
Nov 17 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique
Nov 18 – London, England @ Brixton Electric
Nov 19 -– Manchester, England @ Gorilla
* Supporting Omar Apollo