by Kyla Sanchez ‘22

Raveena Aurora, an American singer and song-writer who debuted in 2017 with her EP Shanti, immediately stood out with her fusion of RnB, soul, jazz and a touch of South Asian Bollywood. With her exploration of intimate topics such as womanhood, generational resilience, and surviving sexual assault, Raveena carved a unique place in the music scene unmatched by any other, adored by critics as well as artists like Tyler the Creator. Her debut album, Lucid (2019), left fans wondering what direction her next album would go in. Would she maintain soft sounds and personal subject matter? Would she switch to a more pop-sound in light of singles like “Tweety?”

Released in mid-February, Asha’s Awakening defied all expectations. A concept album written from the perspective of a Punjabi space princess, Asha, who travels through space and time after a few thousand years of galactic meditation, it is certainly a unique project. While her previous album centered on her very personal journeys, this album does the same (with the character of Asha being very similar to Raveena and many of the songs still based on her experiences) while also adding a touch of unique magic that allows for more creative leeway. The narrative arc is not explicitly stated, only subtly referred to throughout the project. Instead, Asha’s point of view is explored through her own tales of personal healing and travel, immersing the listener into a vibrant, story-book-like world of psychedelia, wisdom, and growth. 

The album opener and first single, “Rush,” kicks the album off like a ray of sunlight, the first sounds being soft bird chirps before a bouncy, traditional Bollywood 4-count beat cuts in, introducing Raveena’s cheery voice as she sings of Asha, herself, and all that she can do. She sets herself up as a being of legend and mystery, smoothly singing ‘somewhere in the jungle there you’ll find a lover, she could cure everything.’ Her lyrics are playful and coy, as are many of the songs on the album, full of lush imagery of nature, flirtatious lines, and evocative images of the powerful Asha. 

The album continues to explore Asha’s playful and thoughtful perspective, with a balance of light and deeper subject matters from love affairs (“Secret” and “Kathy Left 4 Kathmandu”) to overcoming the loss of a child and growing out of her twenties (“Time Flies”). This range of topics for songs keeps the album interesting and engaging. Other songs explore various topics like Asha’s mixed feelings on the Internet (“The Internet is Like Eating Plastic”), issues with over committing to relationships (“Love Overgrown”), spiritual awakening (“Arrival to the Garden of Cosmic Speculation”), and more. 

The production of the album is also spectacular, with a variety of genres like soft rock, folk, and 2000s era RnB and even more beautiful and appropriate incorporation of South Asian and Bollywood music elements than her earlier projects. Her South Asian heritage is more actively centered than ever, with Hindi lyrics in most songs and a guest feature by legendary Indian singer Asha Putlhi on “Asha’s Kiss.” The album brings out new sides of Raveena that are welcome in a music world lacking South Asian representation.

Asha’s Awakening pulls Raveena into a new era of growth and magic, where she can expand infinitely and galactically with new and familiar sounds and themes, and makes for an amazing and captivating listen.  

Grade: A-