Alesia Lani - Self Titled (Album)
Back in October, Alesia Lani released her album, “Self Titled,” on her birthday to celebrate the journey she’s gone through to deliver this incredible project to the masses. It was a long-awaited release, but for the sentiment reason that she put everything into this project and left her heart & soul on it. Some tracks off the album had been released before as singles, and its addition with the newer releases makes a more pleasing experience when bunched together. It’s a blissful awakening and a positive vibe to enjoy in such an ethereal experience that we know listeners will want to hear repeatedly.
The project opens up with her fan-favorite single “I Don’t Mind,” which still delivers an infectious vibe due to its swoon chorus; it presents her album with an already familiar bop, making the entry perfect, especially when you get into some of her newer releases, you’ll feel the energy starting to build up. Alesia lowers the tempo a little when we get into “Better,” where she talks about a love interest, projecting her to be down and out without them, to be laid out broken up about the loss, but instead, she’s in high spirits. She’s doing good, not bitter like you thought she would; she takes the whole thing as a learning process. This time, you got the best of her, but don’t think twice that she’s not getting her lick back. She turns the table right back to you, feeling that no matter what she did, it just wasn’t enough for you, but she sees that she isn’t the problem because she’s doing better without you; it just might be your fault with things taking a turn for the worse in your end. Alesia sounds blissful in the release, more harmonious than revengeful, like she’s celebrating the fact you’re getting a taste of your own medicine, going through it as if you thought she would be enduring the worst. Still, you didn’t expect her to be this positive about it, and that is why you got stuck in these regretful situations to rethink your actions and suffer the consequences. More familiar records appear in the project, like the Jackie Venson ballad “Breaking Me Down” and The Teeta-featured record “What You Know About It,” which fit perfectly on the tracklist. They make a perfect introduction to the new release between them, like “Runnin’ Back To You,” which is beautifully executed; the tears and emotions it brings out are spectacular, a defining piece to share just how special Alesia Lani’s music is. “Idfwu” is another highlight for me because of her positive energy throughout the record when she brings up these hurtful moments in the ballad. You know you have a remarkable songstress on hand who can play multiple roles, a warrior being one of them, just by the power she feeds into the record. The self-titled project is a way for Alesia to vent, with days bringing up heartbreak to others being joyous moments. She wants to share her life in the best way she knows, in rhythm-approaching cadence and her ability to shed light on certain moments with her angelic voice. Alesia Lani doesn’t make music; she makes emotions sing in divine art; it’s much more than hearing but feeling like the whole world is connected in each record she delivers. It’s astonishing to think about how much an artist can make you feel heart and soul through the enriching sounds of their voice. I’ve heard comparisons in the past on how she sounds close to Erykah Badu, and while I can hear it briefly, it doesn’t take away her own unique soundscape she brings to these tracks. Not copied nor duplicated, she’s the real deal with a voice to brighten your mood.
Alesia Lani deserves way more recognition for her performance and role in the music scene; we can expect much greatness to follow from her in the new year. We know our paths will cross again with her one day, and she’s high on her list for a new project we’re working on in 2024; more on that later. In the meantime, if you haven’t already checked out her album, we highly recommend you do so today and put someone new on it.