How Ravyn Lenae channeled 10 years of work into a timeless pop hit

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Last December, Ravyn Lenae filmed a TikTok video of herself, using her song “Love Me Not” as the soundtrack, right there on the street.

She shared a video with the caption, ‘Me after one last meeting with him, because he won’t be part of my future,’ signaling a clear break from a relationship she felt was hindering her progress.

Almost a year after its release, the singer’s prediction came true. In early April, her song “Love Me Not” – a lively, slightly psychedelic soul track about an unpredictable relationship – landed her a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. A week later, she performed at the Coachella festival. Then, several months after that, she played to a huge, excited audience at Lollapalooza, just as “Love Me Not” reached its peak at number 5 in mid-August.

Lenae, 26, is finishing a fantastic year after achieving a major hit in 2025. She’s currently on tour opening for Sabrina Carpenter, with six sold-out shows at Crypto.com Arena scheduled through this Sunday as Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet tour comes to a close.

I’ve been talking to a lot of other artists lately, and honestly, I’ve been wondering if what I’m experiencing is just part of the job. I keep asking them how they manage everything – the shows, connecting with fans online, the social stuff – and still find time to be creative. It’s a real struggle to balance it all, and I’m trying to learn from those who’ve been through it before.

Not to mention tending to a personal life.

“What’s that?” she asks with a laugh. “That’s literally nonexistent.”

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Lenae first gained widespread recognition thanks to the huge popularity of her song “Love Me Not,” which has been streamed over 700 million times on Spotify. A remix of the song featuring Rex Orange County has also been incredibly popular, with an additional 164 million streams.

As her song gained popularity, Ravyn Lenae responded to a TikTok fan who was surprised to learn she is Black. She playfully asked, “Did you see my name, Ravyn Lenae, and not think I was a Black woman?” She also clarified that she isn’t British, as some people had assumed.

Despite feeling fresh, “Love Me Not” actually marks ten years since Lenae began her music career as a high schooler. She signed with Atlantic Records at 16 and quickly found herself touring and collaborating with artists like SZA and Steve Lacy. Her first full-length album, “Hypnos,” released in 2022, even earned a spot on Pitchfork’s list of the best albums of that year.

I’m incredibly proud to have been a fan of Ravyn Lenae for so long! Like Carpenter, I had her open for me on tour this year. I actually found one of her first EPs way back when I was in high school and I’ve been hooked ever since. Honestly, I sometimes think to myself, ‘You guys are the new kids on the block, and I’m thrilled you’re here, but let’s be clear – I was supporting her music from the very beginning!’

Rapp compares Lenae’s light and delicate soprano voice to that of Minnie Riperton, noting a particularly bright and clear high range. He describes her as ethereal, saying she and her voice seem to float effortlessly.

Music

As a concert honoring her approaches at the Hollywood Bowl, friends and family are reflecting on the life and impact of the late R&B singer.

Lenae’s song “Love Me Not” is currently on the Hot 100 chart. It’s featured on her second album, “Bird’s Eye,” released in August 2024. The song was produced by Dahi, who has previously worked with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Vince Staples. Interestingly, Dahi originally began working on the track years ago with Anderson .Paak but set it aside until later.

Dahi explains that he was heavily influenced by the band MGMT when he started working on “Love Me Not,” and their sound is noticeable in the song. He and Lenae aimed for a classic R&B feel—something that could have been featured on a show like ‘Happy Days’—but they also wanted to maintain a dreamy, atmospheric quality that prevents the song from sounding strictly tied to one time period or genre.

Lenae aimed to make music that felt deeply personal and celebrated Black culture, but also appealed to everyone, regardless of background or age. She succeeded, creating songs like Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” – timeless hits that connect with a wide range of listeners.

Lenae playfully suggests anyone who doesn’t enjoy her music might be mistaken, all while getting a pedicure in her West Hollywood hotel room. She’s had a busy day, starting with a flight from New York, where she performed with Kali Uchis on ‘The Tonight Show’ and at Madison Square Garden. After a photoshoot, she changed into comfortable clothes to relax and chat for a bit.

She glanced down at the pedicurist working on her feet and said, “These heels are causing corns.” Then she joked, “I bet Beyoncé has to work really hard on her feet too, if mine look like this!”

Critics immediately noticed the song “Love Me Not,” but it became truly popular late last year when a DJ created a TikTok video combining it with Solange’s “Losing You.” The video, part of a series about upbeat songs about breakups, quickly went viral. A positive post about Lenae’s album “Bird’s Eye” from singer SZA – calling it one of her favorites of the year – also helped bring more listeners to her music.

The singer was raised in Chicago, and her maternal grandparents immigrated from Panama in the late 1970s. The house where they settled on the city’s south side is featured in the music video for her song “Love Me Not,” which she directed. The video shows Lenae and her sister dancing outside the bedroom where she grew up.

She wanted this song to give listeners a strong first impression of who she is as an artist. She recalls that even her grandmother, who is usually very reserved, had a sweet reaction to the music video, saying, ‘Oh, Ravyn, baby…’

I remember reading that Lenae started performing really young – she was doing talent shows around age twelve! She always had big aspirations, aiming for a sound that blended Alicia Keys and Beyoncé. As she got more experience, she tackled some seriously challenging songs – she learned to sing Christina Aguilera’s ‘Beautiful’ and Rihanna’s ‘Take a Bow,’ which shows how dedicated she was to honing her craft.

She recalls thinking she could win the audience over with her emotional ballads, but admits, ‘I probably sound a little crazy when I watch the recording.’

Lenae continued her education at the Chicago High School for the Arts, where she realized her gentle voice set her apart from other strong singers. She drew inspiration from the soulful and feminine music of artists like Diana Ross, Patrice Rushen, and Janet Jackson. Janet Jackson’s 2001 album, “All for You” – released when Lenae was very young – especially resonated with her and became a key influence.

“There’s a lot to win by not being the loudest in the room,” says Rapp.

Lenae relocated to Los Angeles in 2020, and she admits her first year was difficult. She felt homesick for her mother and struggled financially, recalling times she’d cry in the shower. “I remember some crying in the shower,” she says looking back.

Music

After five years in Los Angeles, the pop-punk artist is releasing a fantastic new EP and will be performing at the Camp Flog Gnaw festival.

Her 2022 song “Skin Tight,” a flirty and heartfelt track created with Lacy, marked a significant moment in her career. Similarly, Lacy’s unique soul-rock song “Bad Habit” became a major hit, even reaching number one on the Hot 100 and earning Grammy nominations for both Record and Song of the Year.

Lenae explained that Steve’s achievement of reaching number one was a landmark moment for artists like herself, especially Black artists who have consistently pushed creative boundaries. It proved that there are no longer limitations on who can succeed and that there’s room for everyone in the music industry.

In addition to “Love Me Not,” standout tracks on “Bird’s Eye” include the gentle and personal song “From Scratch,” which Lenae and Dahi created with inspiration from Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo’s “Nothing Even Matters.” The dreamy and atmospheric “Dream Girl” features contributions from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who have worked with Jackson for many years. Finally, “Bad Idea” is a lively, electro-funk track that samples elements from Bow Wow and Ciara’s early 2000s hit, “Like You.”

“All those Ciara hits, I had the choreo down,” Lenae says.

The album includes the heartfelt song “One Wish,” where Lenae shares her feelings about not having her father present during her childhood.

She admits she never imagined sharing this story, but felt ready to do so. It also happened at a time when she and her father were beginning to repair their relationship, so it was on her mind a lot. She asked him to be in the music video for her song – a video showing a girl chasing a departing car – and the day after filming, they had a deep conversation at Roscoe’s about her upbringing.

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She told me, “Yesterday was his birthday, and I completely forgot.” She said she felt terrible about it, but then she started wondering if she should feel bad. She admitted she often struggles with those kinds of feelings, going back and forth on whether or not she’s justified in feeling upset.

Lenae and her mother are very close. Sometimes, her mother even travels with her, simply to spend time together and offer support – like sharing a hotel room. Lenae says her mother is the one person she can always rely on.

Following her dates with Carpenter this week, Lenae will travel east for several performances as part of iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball tour, continuing the momentum from the success of her song “Love Me Not,” which reached the Top 40. After that, she and Dahi will concentrate on completing her next album.

Lenae describes her new music as being more energetic and impactful than her previous album, “Bird’s Eye.” She recently played a song dedicated to her mother for her during a visit.

She remembers having the song lyrics displayed while the artist read them. Looking up, she saw a tear in the artist’s eye, and they both began to cry. She believes that song will likely become a favorite of hers.

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2025-11-19 22:02