Raven (album)

This article is about the album. For the album's title track, see Raven (song).

## **Raven**Studio album by Kelela

### Producer(s)

Kelela, Asmara, Yo van Lenz, LSDXOXO, Bambii, Florian TM Zeisig, Brandon Peralta, Kaytranada, Khalí, Acemo, Fauzia, Paris Strother, Badsista, Mocky

### Artwork

Alessandro Belliero, Denis Olgac & Hendrik Schneider

## Singles

1. "Washed Away"
Released: September 13, 2022
2. "Happy Ending"
Released: October 19, 2022
3. "On The Run"
Released: November 15, 2022
4. "Contact"
Released: January 17, 2023
5. "Enough For Love"
Released: February 6, 2023

"**Raven**" is the sophomore studio album by American singer and songwriter Kelela. It was released on February 10th, 2023, via Warp Records. It's arrival comes six years after the release of Kelela's debut album, "Take Me Apart", which was lauded by critics as one of the best albums of 2017. Raven was supported by the singles "Washed Away", "Happy Ending", "On The Run", "Contact", and "Enough For Love". The album features American rapper Rahrah Gabor on track 6, "Closure".

## Background

Kelela described the listening of the album as “The first half feels like summer, and then the album carries you into the winter and through the winter.” She also states in the middle that ”You run off the cliff in ‘Contact,’ and then you basically just dive deep into the depths of the ocean on ‘Fooley.’” In a press release, the artist said 'Raven' began as a reaction to feeling alone as a black femme working within dance music, and describes the album as an affirmation of that perspective.

On September 13, 2022, Kelela had announced her first single in 4 years, "Washed Away". Many fans had speculated a new album would be arriving. On October 19, 2022, Kelela had released a second single; "Happy Ending". On November 15, Kelela announced her second studio album, "Raven" and would be slated out for release on February of 2023. Along the announcement of the album, the third single "On The Run" was released. Two more singles were released prior to release, "Contact" and "Enough For Love".

## Composition

Raven's sound contains genres as an modern R&B, avant garde, drum and bass, jungle, and soul album through modern pop album. The latter of Raven's tracks experiments and uses drums, bass, synths, pads, plucks, snares, and more.

### Lyrics

As the album flows as a transition lyrically, the album consists of many issues in different topics, such as relationships, mental struggles, racism, patriarchy, personal reflections, and politics. In the relationship struggles, the pair seem to have bumps and hard times during their relationship, such as being distance and playing hard-to-get. This is described in tracks like "Bruises" ("No, I don't want to do another round"), "Enough For Love" ("Are you tough enough for love?"), "Happy Ending" ("But we're too far away"), and Let It Go ("Where'd you go, where you hidin'?). Mental struggles could be found in tracks like "Washed Away", "Fooley", and "Far Away", as all tracks have a consistency of a being "far away" or being "far away from submerged sound". Racism is lyrically found in "Holier" ("All the s- that you say, you won't learn anyway"), and "Raven" ("They tried to break her").

## Critical reception

Upon release, Raven received widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 86, based on 17 critical reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Andy Kellman described the album as a series of, "Constant if fluid oscillations between diaphanous ballads, pulsing slow jams, and modern street soul bangers are just as suited for the greater number of songs based in relationships." Joey Levenson at NME compared it to Kelela's debut, saying it "makes for a frequently breathtaking companion to *Take Me Apart*," and in a "debut album which was all about breaking down, *Raven* reminds us of what it means to be put back together". Pitchfork designated the album "Best New Music", with Eric Torres calling it a "rapturous" and "masterful display of tension and release, centering queer Black womanhood through blasts of heated dance music and ambient comedowns".

## Tour

Main article: RAVE:N Tour
On December 7, 2022, Kelela had announced the 2023 RAVE:N tour in support of her sophomore studio album, Raven. The tour began March 16, 2023 and is set to end April 11, 2023. The tours first leg passed throughout North America and Europe. An "after party" for the first leg was thrown on April 12, 2023, at the Trauma Bar in Berlin, Germany. The tours' second leg is set to pass throughout Europe.

## Merchandise

**Limited Edition Clear Vinyl**
$32.99, 2xLP
Purchase

**Standard Black Vinyl**
$32.99, 2xLP
Purchase

**Digisleeve CD**
$15.99, Includes digital download
Purchase

### Physicals

Along with the announcement of Raven, physical goods were avail for order alongside. Records include a gatefold jacket with a debossed logo, with lyrics printed inside, two LPs, two printed inner sleeves with credits and liner notes printed alongside. Compact discs include a 4 panel gatefold wallet with a booklet inside. A now sold-out Vinyl Me, Please orange variant of Raven was limited to 1000 copies. It was exclusively avail for purchase on Vinyl Me, Please.

## Gallery

Main article: Photography of RavenAlbum coverTrack listClear vinylClear vinyl layoutBlack vinylBlack vinyl layoutCompact discCompact disc layout
## Singles

Prior to release, Raven was supported with the release of five singles, with were respectively released in order.

* The first and lead single, "Washed Away", was released September 13, 2022.
* The second single, "Happy Ending" was released October 19, 2022.
* The third single, "On The Run", was released November 15, 2022.
* The fourth single, "Contact", was released January 17, 2023.
* The fifth and final single, "Enough For Love", was released February 6, 2023.

"Washed Away""Happy Ending""On The Run""Contact""Enough For Love"
## Videography

Main article: Videography of Raven
Singles for the album had received a music video either along the single's release or after the single's release. In total, 5 music videos were released in favor of Raven's tracklist.

### Music videos

* "Washed Away"
	+ Released: September 13, 2022
* "Happy Ending"
	+ Released: October 19, 2022
* "On The Run"
	+ Released: December 8, 2022
* "Contact"
	+ Released: January 19, 2023
* "Enough For Love"
	+ Released: February 16, 2023

Kelela - Washed Away (Official Music Video)Kelela - Happy Ending (Official Music Video)Kelela - On The Run (Official Music Video)Kelela - Contact (Official Music Video)Kelela - Enough For Love (Official Music Video)
## Track listing

* All tracks are written by Kelela, except track 6 ("Closure"), written by Kelela & Rahrah Gabor.
* All arrangements by Kelela.

### Outtakes

Slim to none outtakes are known for Raven. Please note not all are confirmed to be outtakes for Raven, however it may be possible they were.

* "Treadin' Water"
* "Softest Place On Earth"

## Trivia

* Raven is the only original project that was not released in October.
* The longest running song is "Sorbet", at 5:29, meanwhile the shortest running song is "Divorce", at 3:21.
* Both Take Me Apart and Raven have the same Kelela logo on their right bottom side.
* Raven marks the first feature Kelela has released, with track 6 ("Closure") featuring Rahrah Gabor.
* In physical versions of Raven, there are Apple styled emojis within the lyrics of tracks and in liner notes.

## References

1. ↑ https://dmy.co/news/the-10-best-albums-of-2017
2. ↑ https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-50-best-albums-of-2017/?page=5
3. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/billboard-50-best-albums-of-2017-critics-picks-8062834/
4. ↑ https://www.nme.com/en\_au/news/music/kelela-returns-with-first-new-song-in-five-years-washed-away-3310075
5. ↑ https://mixmag.net/read/kelela-releases-new-club-inspired-track-happy-ending-news
6. ↑ https://www.stereogum.com/2206061/kelela-on-the-run/music/
7. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kelela-announces-second-album-raven-1234631352/
8. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/1569688111617085443
9. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CicwsxPs\_eo/
10. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj5ecAqjO8y/
11. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/1582734225354108928
12. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck\_T\_GsNk-7/
13. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/1592564408047128576
14. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWwFvsP-04/
15. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/1600864154046562304
16. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnms2J7Mtor/
17. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/1618279043912146945
18. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CoZjSXqNHZb/
19. ↑ https://twitter.com/kelelam/status/1623348744396673024
20. ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/album/raven/1652665077
21. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq6ANA\_JwvD/

## Navigation

2023 RAVE:N Tour · Videography · Photography

"**Washed Away**"
"**Happy Ending**"
"Let It Go
"**On The Run**"
"Missed Call"
"Closure"
"**Contact**"

"Fooley"
"Holier"
"Raven"
"Bruises"
"Sorbet"
"Divorce"
"**Enough For Love**"
"Far Away"

Kelela · Rahrah Gabor · Asmara · Warp Records · See personnel →