You know that feeling of satisfaction when a package you’ve been eagerly awaiting has finally arrived? You do a quick victory dance, then you attempt to open it in the most careful way possible. Then, you celebrate finally having what was inside.
That’s a pretty accurate description of me today, because Aluna just dropped her debut solo album RENAISSANCE!
Back in April, Aluna launched her debut solo single “Body Pump.” The sizzling dance track marked the very beginning of an exciting, empowering journey.
“The recent ‘Black Renaissance’ is so inspiring to me,” Aluna explains. “There has been a pivot in all creative endeavors from film and television to plays and comics. Black people have begun involving themselves in non-stereotypical things regardless of who agrees. The outcasts have found each other. Renaissance sums up a defiant, rule-breaking, and transitional election of new culture. To me, this album represents that within its own small, individual world. I’ve gone through the process of owning myself, and this is the celebration. It’s not a party with tables where you’re popping bottles of champagne in high-heeled shoes. It’s in the woods, around the fire, and everyone looks sexy in the bloody fire-light. We might be a minority, but we have power.”
RENAISSANCE features previously released tracks “Body Pump,” “Warrior” with SG Lewis, “Get Paid” with Princess Nokia and Jada Kingdom, and “Envious.” There’s also “The Recipe,” which is a brand new collaboration with KAYTRANADA and Rema.
“It’s quite a girl power track,” she exclaims. “As someone who has an inferiority complex and difficulty feeling confident, I’m introducing myself as a new person. I decided, ‘Be honest. Don’t pretend you’re a chill, low-key, and low-maintenance person, because you’re simply not. You’re an absolute basket case, and you need it all, or the relationship won’t work’.“
Aluna crafted every detail about the album to perfection, and was involved in every aspect of the process of the album’s creation! She shares, “It’s funny, but the album’s production is the most personal thing to me. I’ve struggled with the very core elements of my cultural makeup and almost apologized for it throughout my life. I’m a really weird clash of different musical elements. I unapologetically embraced that. Songs on this record are actual pieces of my existence, especially on the production side.“
Overall, RENAISSANCE feels like the soundtrack to new beginnings and a fresh new outlook on life.
“I feel like this is a time of rebirth for everyone,” Aluna says. “That can be both scary and really exciting depending on which way you conduct your mind or your emotions. For me, music has always been able to shift me towards the future, positivity, and high energy in order to do more. When you listen to this, I want people to start believing in themselves and continue to from that point forward. It’s not a nostalgic album. It’s not looking back to the past; it’s all looking towards the future.“
Celebrate the release of RENAISSANCE tonight with Aluna at her Royal Rave livestream! Tune in at 8PM ET on Mad Decent’s Twitch channel.
And of course, check out RENAISSANCE below!