Review by Raven Lena – An Art School Dreamer Feeling Comfortable with Her Sadness | music

CHicago-born Raven Linae has been an alternative R&B darling since the mid-2010s, an art-school dreamer whose quirky, joyful sound first caught attention when indie genius Steve Lacy produced his Crush EP in 2018. Tonight in Manchester, her quirky persona was reflected on stage by a group of surprisingly baby-faced misfits pressed against the barrier: a sea of twenty-somethings who care With trends and wearing flabby loads and Y2K outfits desperate for a chance to touch the singer’s hand. Backed by a guitarist, drummer and backing track, Lenae spins around the stage with the groove-heavy Sticky, a lone wind instrument that launches its curls into the air.

Some songs from her 2024 album Bird’s Eye land on eager ears. The new material takes a nice, edgy turn from her previous work, bouncing from the fun, slinky spokes of Candy to the tender, heart-touching ballad Love Is Blind. She channels her tattered romantic frustrations into wistful pleas: “How would you love me if you left me behind?” But the slower sad girl moments on the new record, including Pilot, seem to struggle to maintain the same momentum. Her recent grief undoubtedly means a lot to her: Lena punctuates the set with warm reflections on her growth as an artist and offers a healthy, relatable dose of sisterly love and guidance: “Stay the course. Time is a gift.”

For the most part, OG tracks like Free Room, full of deep strings, and 4 Leaf Clover’s gorgeous drum machines, still draw the biggest cheers. But then Bird’s Eye’s hit Love Me Not swings into country revival with a delicious slice of Western charm, and the earworm hook, “I Wish You Were Here,” rings out long after the show is over. It’s clear that her fans are loving her every word, but it still seems as if Lenae has untapped potential: perhaps a heavier band – and less reliance on pre-recordings – plus a sprinkling of more pizzazz would let her obvious talent and ambition shine.