Kehlani Enjoys Being Forever Present On New Album 'CRASH'

Kehlani shot by Israel Riqueros

An active listening experience Kehlani releases her fourth studio album, CRASH, a thirteen track kaleidoscopic collusion of all past and present lived experiences expressed in a multitude of vastly different but authentic sounds.

Opening the experimental ballad ‘GrooveTheory’, which can be distinctly separated into two parts Kehlani comes out swinging with sincerely held notes sung with deep feeling, before giving way to a serenading manner as she attends to make a moment with someone.

Smoothly transitioning into the more up-tempo and looming ‘Next 2 U’, protective of who she loves Kehlani dares someone to trouble her love interest. Singing emotively, “They gon’ have to come get me/ they gon’ have to see about me to get next to you.”

Already being inspired by the 90s R&B group Groove Theory, as mentioned previous, on the playful ‘After Hours’ the Bay Area artist turns to sampling Cordel “Scatta” Burrell, ‘Coolie Dance Rhythm’ on ‘After Hours’.

Reworked into a track for the club ‘After Hours’ is a catchy offering that’s all about enjoying the moment rather than going home.

She communicates her desires with equal measures of frank fullness and suggestively in a melodic whirlwind that is ‘What I Want’.

And the self-titled ‘Crash’ is an explosive take on when you are fully caught up in a romantic situation, and don’t know which way is which.

Towards the middle of the project there is a four-track run that starts with ‘8’ a sensuous and liveable experience through lyrics before moving into the alt jazz inspired Sucia’ joined by Young Miko and Jill Scott which is a slow burn of lust.

Indecisive in if she wants commitment on country inspired ‘Better Not’, Kehlani sings “I don’t want to have to make you chose/I see the way you look at me and I bruise / nothing wrong with keeping secrets for each other, I’ll never keep anything from you."

She also opens up on a new musical direction flirting with dance, R&B and Ampiano elements on ‘Tears’ featuring Omah Lay.

‘Vagas’ is more pop-centric meets pycadelic rock and indie, whilst ‘Deep’ is a snapshot into the work Kehlani has put to be here.

Nearing the end ‘Chapel’ is a tender cut that goes back to the belief in cherishing and committing to a single person. The name of the track itself, hinting at the idea of matrimony.

Infidelity again is addressed at the end of the project on ‘Lose My Wife’ as Kehlani bares her own guilt and acceptance of her disloyaly both direct and indirect. “You should know it’s yours without a doubt / you’ll never catch me crashing out.”

Explaining her new album in her own words, Kehlani says, “A crash, in any form, is the peak height of the moment.” she states. “It isn’t the anxiety of the before, or the lament after. It is the ever so imperative present. A space with no reminisce, no remorse, and no afterthought. CRASH IS HERE. At my most free, most fun, most loud, most fueled, so far.”

Her fourth studio album, CRASH follows up to the gorgeous blue water road, release in 2022.

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