Color Review: “Static” by Ari Lennox

Yesterday Ari Lennox made a decision to ‘quit’, devastating her fans and supporters in response to Lizzo’s Soul Train album of the year award, or the straw that broke Lennox’s patience. Although the award itself isn’t the prize here, the award represents acknowledgement, celebration and appreciation, especially for a platform like Soul Train. This award show is one where the few soul musicians can rest assured they will be authentically represented and celebrated. However, when someone who uses a soul chord here, and a blues note there wins best album of the year over artists staying true to the genre, it represents the industry. An industry that prioritizes ratings, popularity, and ultimately, predictability over maintaining the spirit of celebrating soul/r&b on seemingly the only platform made for it.

Trumpets caress you as the intro eases into the silky tones of Ari Lennox’s vocals. With lyrics almost medicinal to self power, preservation, and persistence, she uses “Static” as a metaphor for society, and each hindrance in her life. Best represented as this Vacation Green, this track is an example to working through anxiety and reaching the pacifying “white noise” as a remedy to the static. The purity of the hue, reflects the genuine spirit of the lyrics and accepting her feelings as true, but the hidden depth created from the medium saturation reveals healing, understanding, and optimism. Green is known as a healing hue on the surface, but for Ari, the healing begins on the inside, and reinstating or gaining more control, in general.

For time of day, this song works for the sunrise and sunset, introspection is most effective and long lasting during these times of day as it marks a beginning and the start to an ending. Scenically, this song belongs in wide open spaces, echoes will intensify the weight of the lyrics, and the nurturing instrumentation.