Headphones: Rexx Life Raj’s Life After Loss
Rexx Life Raj - Lindsey Best
It is commonly said that music doesn’t have a language. While we sometimes may not understand the exact words of a song, we can always understand the emotion and meaning behind a song thanks to lyrical delivery, production, and visual aid (music videos, visualizers, etc.). For every person, there is at least one song that they can relate to. This week’s Headphones selections are very different from one another, providing a wide range of emotions. Yet, these are songs that every human can relate to in one way or another.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
In The Blue Hour, Rexx Life Raj does not shy away from experimenting with the foundations of the R&B genre. From his use of airy vocals to his punchy rap flows, Raj does not hesitate with using his wide range of talent. Although this has always been a constant in his work, there is something inherently different about this album, setting it apart from the rest of his discography. The Blue Hour is arguably the most vulnerable body of work that Raj has put out to date. He began writing the album after his mother passed away and knew he needed to become more candid with his audience. He takes the listener through the five stages of grief and makes it clear that is here to help and heal those who can relate.
The album’s opener “Reappear” begins with a melancholy arrangement of piano, electric guitar, and treble-heavy synthesizers. This melancholy is juxtaposed with a fast-paced drum line and rap flow. The style in which he delivers his lyrics makes it feel as though he is getting something off his chest. The listener cannot help but feel close to Raj at this moment. His talks about having to navigate life without his biggest supporter, along with losing his faith are something that many people can relate to. Although he can be seen in denial throughout the track, he has no other option but to move on.
After bringing his troubles to light, Raj’s tone shifts in the second track, “New Normal”. Here, he finds himself on a journey where he is rediscovering himself and accepting that his life has changed. The track opens with a recording of her praying for the protection of Raj.
Her voice is a constant throughout the album. This represents that although she is no longer with Raj, she is still guiding him through life. She reappears in “Hands and Knees,” “Radius/No Days Off,” and “Healed/Best of Me.” It can clearly be heard that Raj’s mother was his biggest supporter and always wanted the best for him. He is using these recordings to remind himself that he cannot stop believing in himself. The album begins to take a more positive turn with “Balance,” “Scared Money,” and “Sunset Over College Park.” In these tracks, Raj acknowledges that it is now time to focus on himself. After the losses he has experienced, he has no other option but to work on himself and his craft.
It can be heard where Raj pulls his inspiration from. In an interview with Master & Dynamic, Raj said, “I like to consider my style melodic rap. It’s not too commercial, and influenced by neo-soul artists like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo and Jill Scott”. The influences can still be heard in this album, but the way he makes the genre his own is what makes it the most special. Glimpses of Drake, Travis Scott, and James Blake can be heard as well. Overall, The Blue Hour is a very diverse work of art and deserves recognition amongst Rap/Hip-Hop and R&B listeners.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK
Garrett Nash - Casen Ruiz
Money, Love & Death by Garrett Nash: One of Garrett Nash’s many talents is being able to encapsulate his listeners with just his words. Nash is known to overlap his rather simple instrumentals with dynamic and meaningful lyric writing. On the surface, one could identify Money, Love & Death as just another love song within the Folk-Pop genre. So, what sets it apart from others?
This song was originally written by Sean Kennedy for Nash. After falling in love with it, Nash took the role of finishing it. Nash knew that he needed to pursue this song, and he stuck with the original concept. The writing style definitely steered in a different direction from his smash hit “I Hate U, I Love U”. Although the chord progression of this song is just as nostalgic as “I Hate U, I Love U”, it takes on a more hopeful and happier tone. This is because although the song is about losing someone you love, it is more so about cherishing them. More importantly, it’s about cherishing those crucial people while they are still in your life. It is unclear who exactly they are writing about. That is where the beauty of this song lies. Because the person being addressed in the song isn’t specified, it leaves the listener to decide how they want to relate the song to their personal life. In the modern-day love song, this is something that is rare to find.
Nash does an incredible job at delivering his percussive verses with softness. The melody is simple to remember, and the way that it flows tugs at the heartstrings. The song isn’t meant to be sad, but it isn’t meant to be happy. When listening to it, one can’t help but to think about their loved ones. It arises the question: ‘Do I tell those I love that I love them enough?’ Nash keeps the listener engaged by contrasting the percussive verse with flowy, smooth choruses. The simplicity of the lyrics is also something to be appreciated. Although they have a lot to say, they do not overwhelm the listener with overly-poetic lyrics. The consistency and simplicity of the instrumental was a very smart move on behalf of Nash. This allows for listeners to be invested in what he is saying and makes the song more emotional.
This song stays true to Nash’s style, and nothing new isn’t really being done here in terms of his artistry. He stays true to his emotional writing style and again is very straightforward with what he has to say. The song allows for Nash to show off his vocal range. He taps into the softer parts of his voice, which is incredibly unique. In the future, I hope to see him use his voice in a more diverse manner, with more experimental vocals. However, this single is nothing short of well-made for those who love him, or those who are recently discovering him.
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Matador by Bengala Fire: Storytelling is the key to music, especially in the genre of Rock. Matador by Bengala Fire stays true to this notion. Their influences can be heard in the likes of Green Day and Black Sabbath (who were paid homage in the video). Although the song itself is in Italian, it stays true to many of the foundations of Western rock. This factor is something that captivates rock listeners, and the music video enhances this. The song was inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s story “The Capital of the World”, which followed a boy named Paco whose dream was to become a Matador. Bengala Fire takes this story to another level, however. They explore the idea of how dreams can blind people.
The style of the video is what caught my eye most. Upon first glance, it seems straightforward. But as the listener’s grasp on the song strengthens, the meaning of the video becomes more complex. The music video starts by immediately foreshadowing the fate of the aspiring Matador by showing a knife. It appears everyone, but he knew what his fate would be. In the music video, the subject’s dream of being a Matador is juxtaposed with his dream of being a Rockstar. As he is sitting in the bar, Bengala Fire can be heard playing in a large stadium right next to him. This catches his attention, and he begins to think about what life would be like if he was famous.
Fame takes bravery and courage. It is said that some people would die for fame. In this song, Bengala Fire provokes the listener to think about what they would do for fame. The lyrics also reference the will to change. It is made clear that to get what he wants, he must be brave. Although this seems like the more noble choice for the main subject of the video, Bengala Fire emphasizes how naïve his mindset is. This is confirmed using the word ineptitude, which is frequently said throughout the song. The aspiring Matador’s fate is death, and that is exactly what happens.
This music video could have been made in live action, but their choice not to do this is what sets the song apart. It feels as though one is watching a movie as opposed to a music video, which again is very different than what I have seen in the Rock genre. It is also different from their normal style of the music video. This means that they are delving into new territory, which is what the world wants to see.
