The Album Club: January 2026 Notes
Ravyn Lenae's Bird's Eye & Accepting the Journey
I remember really enjoying Ravyn Lenae’s Bird’s Eye when I first heard it a few years back. But out of all the projects we’ve discussed so far at The Album Club, it’s the one I’ve spent the least amount of time with. That being said, I’m grateful to our wonderful facilitator Selah for suggesting this album and inviting me to revisit it.
Similar to the featured artist from our last meeting, Saba, Lenae comes from the creative lineage of groundbreaking Chicago musicians, such as Chance the Rapper, Mick Jenkins, and Jamila Woods. Lenae’s first touring gig was with Noname. She adds to these artists’ heartfelt body of work with Bird’s Eye, which is Lenae, at 24 years old, guiding us through different seasons of her life.
Mirroring the arc of the album, Selah, our “Pilot” for the evening, started light, took us deep, and then brought us back to a gentle landing. With everyone sitting shoulder to shoulder, making Scatter Joy’s storefront feel cozier than it already is, the discussion felt intimate and invited folks to share openly about their thoughts and experiences.
One of my favorite points of the conversation was chatting about the third track on the album, “One Wish,” which features Childish Gambino. Lenae calls this “one of the most important songs on the album” because it highlights the complex relationship she’s had with her dad. In a letter she wrote about the song, Lenae shared, “Something valuable I’ve learned is being able to really humanize my loved ones and understand the context around people more deeply.”
During the discussion, we talked about estranged relationships in our lives that have shaped how we approach connecting with others. While some people openly shared about strained bonds with family and friends, one of the things that came up is people’s relationship with themselves. We’re handed imperfect instructions and expected to find our way, which often leads to disappointment whether it’s our own doing or comes at the hands of others.
While it’s tempting to want an easy way out—to use our “one wish” to wipe it all away—it’s the challenges and struggles that shape us. That doesn’t mean we glorify these difficulties, but they can be invitations to help us better understand ourselves and what we need from the relationships in our lives. They can guide us toward understanding our humanness and the different facets of who we are.
Gaining a greater sense of self doesn’t mean we have all the answers. I can learn more about who I am and what I want and still be “a pilot roaming.” As the lyrics to “Pilot” read, “I don’t know where to start / Can’t say where I began.” Uncertainty is normal. As Da’Jah noted, society isn’t set up for us to easily change direction. But the beauty of this transitional album and the changing of the seasons, as Quanita shared, is that the bird’s perspective (or bird’s eye) changes when leaving for migration and when it returns.
A new year can be many things, but when distilled, it’s simply a set of days. An opportunity to determine how you want to fill your time and what you want to bid farewell. On “Days,” Lenae finds a “better me.” In the year ahead, I want my days to be what they’re meant to be. I say goodbye to the pressure to always have something cooking. I say goodbye to the scarcity of staying relevant. I choose to ease in; to make time to gather and take pride in going at my own pace.
We may not know where we’re going or where we’re roaming to, but at least our eyes are open. At least we’re figuring it out together. Not lost, just wandering toward a better future. I’m grateful I get to practice this future with Selah and everyone who joined last night’s discussion on Bird’s Eye. Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 2 at 7:30pm. Looking forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks!
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Even if you’re unable to join The Album Club in person, let’s continue the conversation in the comments. Feel free to answer any or all of the questions Selah outlined for last night’s discussion on Ravyn Lenae’s Bird’s Eye:
What season does this album—or specific songs—remind you of?
What’s an estranged relationship that impacts how you connect with others?
What are some ways that you have felt like “a pilot roaming”?
As you enter 2026, what do you want your days to look like? What are you glad to say goodbye to?
this was good, Alex! I've never listened to this album, but based on what you shared and the way you dropped some wisdom along with it makes me wanna tap in ASAP. I also really like these reflection questions, so maybe I'll sit with them intentionally after I listen to the album.
sidenote: wish I could teleport there for yalls next irl session! seems very vibey and my type of time!