Jordan Rakei - What We Call Life (Album)

Written By Ed Lindsay
 
Credit: Justin Tyler Close

Credit: Justin Tyler Close

London-based artist, producer and songwriter Jordan Rakei releases his fourth studio album “What We Call Life” via Ninja Tune a stunning collection of tracks delving deep into intimate and thought-provoking themes with craftsmanship that falls nothing shy of being a masterpiece.

“What We Call Life” sees a departure from the big questions regarding technology, social media, and our senses of humanity, moving into more vulnerable territory for the New-Zealand-born, Australian-raised artist. The album’s lyrics take the listener on a journey of all the things Rakei learned in therapy. Already a practitioner of meditation and mindfulness, Rakei was curious of the potential for using therapy as a path towards self-discovery. During this time, he began to learn more about his behaviours, anxieties and addressed his long-standing irrational fear of birds, a fear often associated with the unpredictable and the unknown, and something that can be seen through the album’s creative visuals.

“As we worked through it, it made me realise I would love to talk about the different lessons I learned from therapy in my music: about my early childhood, my relationship with my parents and siblings, becoming independent in London, being in a new marriage, understanding how my marriage compares to the relationship my parents had” Rakei says.

These themes appear throughout the album, such as in ‘What We Call Life’s lead single “Family” which Rakei says is “the most personal” he’s ever been lyrically, stating that he wanted to show his vulnerability and be really honest. The song talks about his parent’s divorce when he was younger and the love he shared for them no matter what. The Album’s second track “Send My Love” see’s Rakei sending a message from London back to his family in Australia, “It’s a stand for my independence, like saying: I’m fine here, don’t worry about me, send my love back home.” "Illusions” takes on the topic of free will, with Rakei saying “The song is an argument about how much control I have over my mood, my attitude, or even my personality.

“What We Call Life” also sees Jordan expand his sonic vocabulary in a way that will please long-term fans of his work whilst also giving them an entirely new experience. The album carries forward his signature style of Neo-Soul and Hip-Hop-based music, whilst also pushing further into new ground, merging this style with electronic sounds and ambient atmospheres, creating something richer and more textured than ever before.

Unlike his previous albums, which were built from his own demos, “What We Call Life” saw Jordan incorporate his full band into the entire writing process for the first time. Over the course of two writing and recording sessions in Wales, Jordan and his Collaborators (Chris Hyson, Jim Macrae, Jonathan Harvey, Imraan Paleker, and Ernesto Marichales) laid down the foundations of the album, Before being taken back to his London studio for the post-production process which took place over lockdown. By taking on the writing of the album this way, you truly get a feel for each of the collaborators’ influence in the final product.

As a huge fan of Jordan Rakei’s work, I have to say that “What We Call Life” is an album I will have on repeat for months, With such impressive musicality and lyrics that will keep you thinking, the incredible dynamic shifts throughout, giving you opportunities to groove as well as sit back and take in the ambient atmospheres. This album will be on all my playlists from here on out, and not to mention the clear blue vinyl is gorgeous!

Credit: Joseph Bishop

Credit: Joseph Bishop

 
Ed Lindsay
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