Ravyn Lenae Serenades London's Village Underground

With a bassy rendition of ‘Xctacy’, Ravyn Leane emerges to a swelling tribute before greeting sharp red lights central of a hazey Village Underground; the weathered bricked charm copacetic of a mid-week city gig. Debuting back in 2016 with her hallowed ‘Moon Shoes’ and to prevailing success of her break-out single ‘Free Room’, the 24-year-old has traversed a commendable career since introducing her balmy re-imaginings of neo-soul. And a little like a chameleon that shifts prismatic hues and varying degrees of brightness; so too does the artist, as she hones a rare prowess in reinterpreting the cardinal features of genres like R&B. Against fashioning a spectrum of blossoming classics in different measures of moody and feel-good, she’s become somewhat of a connoisseur with a remarkable ear. Working with some of the industry’s more innovative collaborators and sound modernists, well before their time; que Monte Brooker and the Digi-sensation Steve Lacy, her ascension clouts a category all its own, as she’s curated a unmistakable approach from production to vocals advocated by a tightknit community of urbane Zillenials.

Taking a moment on Wednesday night (May 31) to show off her culled belonging on the scene, Lenae shimmied about the stage carrying undeniably high notes wound through rich band remixes of her hits over the years. In a kismet display of her vocal range, the formerly silky lays chrysalis to a searing stage-ready presentation; her vocalization up to the task for an absolute performance. Treating the audience to the newer nostalgia of a few quiet anthems, these casual triumphs did only reaffirm the artist’s soft edge that has kept her on our radar for all these years.

What made for a satisfying tight run of the artist's more notable singles, the singer took time to commend her appreciation for London’s tempting influence; shortly sharing that the city is one of her favorite places - a remarked nod that bears faintly from the airless outtakes on her whimsy ‘Crush’ EP - a few riffs which warranted a cover that evening. Over being a Chicago native and citing an early collision with music; her amply lettered background and inspired leverage answer for the artist's matured finesse. Overall sharing a humbly gracious performance, the artist quenched her audience with purl harmonies while her team yielded bottled water to revellers in accommodating one of the city’s more spirited Shoreditch under-dwellings.