Ravyn Lenae: Tiny Desk Concert

This year, NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of brand new Tiny Desk concerts — both from home and from behind our beloved Desk. Together, these artists represent the past, present and future of Black music. This month of carefully curated shows is a celebration of Black artists expressing themselves in ways we've never seen before, and of the Tiny Desk's unique way of showcasing that talent.

Ashley Pointer | June 22, 2022
Hearing Ravyn Lenae’s voice resonate from behind the Tiny Desk for one of our first concerts back in the building had me entranced. With her voice raw and unamplified, Lenae and her dynamic band transformed our office into a funky, futuristic space where she was completely in her element.

Hailing from Chicago, Lenae dropped her first EP, Moon Shoes, in 2015. Since then, she’s released two more EPs, her sound permeating the world of contemporary R&B and blurring the lines between soul, funk and R&B. This year Lenae reemerged with the release of her debut full length, HYPNOS, already shaping up to be one of the best albums of 2022.

Her Tiny Desk concert commences with three songs off HYPNOS. Opening with “Venom,” an electro-funk song that seethes, Lenae sings: “Why do you play me for a fool?” Her signature falsetto descends over spacey synth melodies while her drummer keeps an insistent, metallicy groove. Then Lenae performs perhaps the most vulnerable songs from her new album, including “Skin Tight,” a melancholic guitar-led ballad that addresses a past romantic relationship and the energy that was once shared, and “Inside Out,” a love letter to herself that channels a ’90s R&B sound with dramatic piano harmonies, a soulful lead melody and dynamic drums.

“I think it’s a lifelong journey, learning to love yourself and trust yourself, and believe in the skin you’re in,” Lenae says of “Inside Out.” “I wrote this song when I wasn’t so sure… that’s why we sing it together.” With a fiercely energetic upsweep, she closes the show with her hit “Sticky.” As she slides into those distinct shrilling oohs, I can’t help but sing along to her catchy hook — all while realizing that only Lenae can do it quite like that.

SET LIST
“Venom”
“Skin Tight”
“Inside Out”
“Sticky”

MUSICIANS
Ravyn Lenae: vocals
Marcus Reddick: bass
Danielle “Dee” Thompson: drums
Harrison “Achee” Hawkins: keys/MD
Garrett Jones: guitar
Aja Grant: vocals
Phylicia Hill: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Audio Recording & Mix Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Series Creator: Bob Boilen
Videographers: Kara Frame, Josh Bryant, Michael Zamora, Pierre Kattar
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Jill Britton, Joby Tanseco, Maia Stern
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#NPRMusic #TinyDesk #RavynLenae

[MrBaskins]

her voice sounds better than it does on the album. her label needs to get her to drop more unplugged style music like this

[GRACEiisCOOL]

FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY!! Her debut album is deffs worth celebrating esp on tiny desk. Congrats Ravyn

[ortiz]

I can’t get over how she sounds. It’s so angelic 😭😭😭

[QbiKz]

Been a massive fan of Ravyn for like 4 years now, this is a nice surprise ☺️

[passion]

So happy she did "Skin Tight" Love that song just wish her set was longer 🥴

[khanyisilemaeta]

As a massive Ravyn fan, I am very happy about this. It's long overdue.

[palesaaaa_]

SETLIST ❤
00:00 VENOM
03:57 SKIN TIGHT FT STEVE LACY
07:05 INSIDE OUT
12:01 STICKY

[allmybookshit]

OMG WHY DID SHE NOT PERFORM SATELLITES. but I must add - this is inarguably, the most moving, transformative, mellifluous album I have come across in years. what a talented talented individual. I tear up every single time I listen to skin tight or satellites. such raw talent

[sndHeartAke]

Npr be putting me on okay! She is gorgeous, graceful and her voice is mad angelic 😩 then the whole squad is all shades of beautiful black!!! I'm in love

[anthonymunashe]

her and her band have such good chemistry. such a collective soft aura from them, it’s so refreshing!

[folashadekeerveld]

She reminds me of NAO mixed with Tank and the Bangas.

WHAT AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE!!

[RNBRADAR]

this cleared my skins, my sinuses, my head, my mind
i will stan this woman forever

[bosslady]

When she starts singing "Sticky", it brings back memories of Insecure. It was the season 3 opener, when Issa was crashing on Daniel's couch. I miss Insecure! lol...anyway, Ravyn Lenae is opening for Badu at Ravinia Festival later this year. I'll get to check her out live.

[easyensemble]

Ravyn deserves all her flowers. And her band too!

[byeitsalexx]

Hypnos definitely one of the best albums of the year. So glad I got to see her live in Amsterdam!

[khanyakwethudlamini]

The band understands the energy transmission of her voice

[KamJam]

Tiny Desk just pulling artists directly from my playlist at this point lol

edit: wow this is my most liked comment on yt 🤩 thanks music lovers btw I’d post my playlist in the comments for all those asking but I don’t think you can post links there 🤷🏾‍♂️

[abriesimone]

She’s got such a strong Deniece Williams-ish essence to her voice, the notes seem so effortless even tho I know she’s a pro at it!

[yudhistira]

wow! ravyn actually get some spotlight finallyy! her crush EP was on repeat for me for a time :)

[shadowbook]

Wow! This is my first time listening to her. I hear a cross between Denise Williams and Minnie Ripperton. What a wonderful vocalist!