Sonic Space: Kehlani
“You Should Be Here” is the first full-length album by Oakland, California native, Kehlani. It’s the follow-up to her fantastic 2014 mix tape “Cloud 19.” Kehlani’s vocals are clear and occasionally a little hollow, but the rich backing tracks to every song on the album offset whatever her vocals lack in fullness. Her real talent lies in the construction of her lyrics and the range of rhythms and cadences she can seamlessly meld together in a track.
“You Should Be Here” is an album about stories. Each track is a confession or a plea. Men in Kehlani’s songs are simultaneously desirable and annoying. In “The Way,” Kehlani comes out swinging with “Boy you know all I do/ is stay up all night losing sleep over you.” This is a sensual track, ideal for any baby-making playlist on the market. Later in the same track, she bemoans having to wait for men to catch up with her. The songs on “You Should Be Here” are a clear reflection of the struggles of maintaining you sanity in the emotional wreck of life. Kehlani doesn’t come off as preachy or pitiful. Her songs seem real.
The production crew for the album definitely deserves a shoutout. The tight production blends a variety of interesting sounds without overwhelming Kehlani’s voice. Small musical touches — the tinkling piano in “Down For You,” the chirpy accents in “Wanted,” the faded synths in “Yet” — guide the tracks and create interest and emphasis without blowing out the bass and overpowering the smoky vocals of Kehlani.
There are no true “singles” on this album, though plenty of the tracks could be remixed into summer club hits. That being said, there a couple of standout tracks on the album. “Alive” is by far the most pop-like — the production is bright and cheery, and the lyrics are designed for top-down-in-the-convertible-post-break-up drives.
“The Way” is my favourite track on the album. It’s slinky, powerful and raw. The song features Chance the Rapper in a much more relaxed environment than usual. His verse is stretched out over a slowly throbbing beat. The eponymous track, “You Should Be Here,” is a piece of R&B delight. It’s the best demonstration of the power and range of Kehlani’s vocals as well as her ability to speed up and slow down tracks.
To say that “You Should Be Here” sounds like a less-thirsty The Weeknd album mixed with some stripped-down Kanye might technically be accurate but fails to capture the originality and authenticity of Kehlani’s debut album. It’s a varied, well-produced and truly engaging set of songs. You should listen to it.