Album of the Month: Asha’s Awakening - Raveena
RnB artist Raveena pushes the boundary of her sound on the sophomore album Asha’s Awakening
Following her emergence in the RnB scene with her 2019 debut album “Lucid,” Raveena released her sophomore album “Asha’s Awakening” earlier this month. The album chronicles a Punjabi space princess, Asha, and her travels through time and galaxies as she learns advanced spiritual magic, lessons on love, and loss.
“Asha’s Awakening” embodies Raveena’s signature floaty plucked string lines, whispy soft melodies, swirling dreamy landscapes, and lush lyrical imagery while also pushing the boundaries of psychedelic pop RnB. Raveena has always centered her heritage in her music, but on “Asha’s Awakening,” she digs deeper into her Indian-American roots, incorporating Bollywood sounds, Hindi language, and South Asian instruments. Her album is a larger expansion of what it means to be a diasporic artist — a theme woven into the fabric of the piece.
The opening track “Rush” features the percussive Indian drum called the Kanjira paired with a grooving electronic drumbeat, a perfect Bollywood fusion. The song is a vibrant introduction to Asha’s journey. Raveena beautifully balances the embrace of her South Asian femininity and sensuality while commenting on American fetishization. With the line “Heard she’s made of music / Ready for your ruin / American Fantasy,” she alludes to the exoticized and exploited fixtures of western culture, an added layer of self-awareness.
Similarly, the disco- influenced “Kathy Left 4 Kathmandu” offers satirical commentary on a rich white hippie named Kathy who is infatuated with eastern culture, psychedelic experiences, and spiritual idolization. It features a grooving funk guitar riff and bold basslines, embodying the type of song you would listen to in a car on a warm, sunny summer days with the windows down.
Beyond eastern sounds, Raveena also dabbles in Hip Hop. On the seductive and flirty track “Secret” featuring Vince Staples, the subtle instrumentation spotlights Raveena’s mesmerizing sensual, lush vocal delivery. Expanding her typical sound, she also includes a rap verse, highlighting the smooth, flirtatious quality of her speaking voice.
The second half of the album ventures from upbeat tunes to more contemplative, reflective moments, marked by the interlude “The Internet is like Eating Plastic.” In this monotone monologue, Raveena talks about the complexities of the internet. Her voice is devoid of emotion, perhaps speaking to the inherent numbness of internet culture.
The track “Asha’s Kiss” features the Indian jazz icon Asha Puthil –– an inspiration to Raveena and a pioneer herself in realms of experimental jazz. The ballad features feature a light feathery flute and the tasteful signature dreamscapes that Raveena excels in. The intimacy of the track is palpable, as listeners peer into the deep cosmic world of a lover’s eyes.
One of the more reflective tracks is “Time Flies” — a song Raveena wrote about her experiences in her early twenties, specifically having an abortion at 21. Mixed by artist and producer Rostam, the track opens with a contemplative Tabla drum that drones through the song as Raveena discusses restarting, letting go, and growth in that time of life. It is a beautiful reflection on trauma and life experience, and Raveena’s tender resilience shines through every second.
The album finishes with a 13 minute guided meditation, “Let Your Breath Become a Flower”. It is an ode to what Raveena embodies as an artist: musical space for self-reflection and healing. She encourages listeners to practice self-acceptance, ending the journey with the introspective wisdom of Asha, perhaps what we can understand as Asha’s offering to us.
As a fellow queer survivor, 1.5 generation, brown, diasporic artist I am extremely fond of Raveena’s work, especially the way she weaves spirituality and resilience into her music. I am excited to see what more experimentations she does with her sound and where her journey takes her.
