A Song For Friday: Raveena (feat. JPEGMAFIA)
Beat the heat with this airy blend of R&B & Hip Hop
The algorithm can work. Case in point: I had never encountered Raveena before today, despite her having success since 2017, including some big streaming numbers. But her new single, Junebug, got an automatic add to my Release Radar by featuring JPEGMAFIA, a rapper and producer I’ve listened to a bit. I’m glad it did, too: with tropical humidity descending on NYC this week, finding heat-beaters like this delightful track becomes necessary for survival.
Born in Massachusetts with Punjabi roots, Raveena seems to barely expend any effort putting her airy soprano across a microphone, making this new track even more chill. While the groove is highly danceable, it’s also relaxed, suggesting no one should break a sweat while moving to it - and kudos to producers Aaron Liao and Tyler Cole for working a nagging tabla into the rhythm. Liao also plays some fine bass.
While I already declared Yaya Bey’s Ten Fold the Album of the Summer that still leaves room for a Song of the Summer. Junebug is in the running - and may break the tape at the finish line. Check it out.
The lyrics make it even more perfect for the season, starting right from the opening lines.
Little Dirty Dancer
Call me a shapeshifter
Iridescent Junebugs
Making love In the summertime
And the chorus seals the deal:
You’re so good to me
Why do you leave
Why do you leave me
With the summertime
JPEGMAFIA, whose production work on albums by Danny Brown and Armand Hammer is dazzling and wild, sticks to rapping on this song, with a buttoned-up verse that answers all of Raveena’s questions:
Look
Think I’m only present for the summer
That’s pretending me I’m not above it
We smother each other’s energy
This kind of back and forth is what the blend of R&B and Hip Hop was made for and it’s a perfect sound for hot days and cool nights. Make sure to stick through to the end of Junebug for the audio verité coda, which puts you in the studio with Raveena and JPEGMAFIA - their laughter confirms there are no hard feelings between them. It’s just a summer romance, after all.
Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain, Raveena’s third album, comes out June 14th.
From the archives:
Best of 2023: Hip Hop, R&B, and Reggae
Record Roundup: Echoes Of Displacement