by Dylan James
photo by Jingyu Lin
Ravyn Lenae sings like she’s been alive forever. Her voice is eternal, but she’s still just a teenager. Before graduating high school last year, Lenae went out on her first North American tour as support for fellow Pitchfork Fest performer and Chicagoan Noname. After graduating, Lenae went on tour with SZA. But while all of these artists exude effortless cool, Lenae’s style of R&B is prodigiously funky. And despite her mature style, her youth can be heard in her freshness. Sounding like she found something new and wants to show it off to everyone, wandering festgoers will be drawn to the sounds of her stage like magnets. Still without a full-length, Atlantic Records promptly signed Lenae last year after the buzz of her two previous EPs. This year’s Crush EP brings cosmic Afro-futurism to Lenae’s repertoire, making her a perfect lead-up to Sunday sets from Chaka Khan and Ms. Lauryn Hill.
