KENNY FORREL SELF-RELEASES A CHILL, LO-FI EXPERIENCE WITH ‘YOU DON’T FLY ANYMORE’

Independent artist Kenny Forrel dropped their self-released album, You Don’t Fly Anymore, on June 16, 2021.

Kenny Forrel – ‘You Don’t Fly Anymore’ album cover

Coming in just shy of 14 minutes, this lo-fi R&B album blesses us all with the chill vibes 2021 has desperately needed. Instrumental tracks “7.25” and “October” establish that familiar lo-fi fuzz with just a dash of some spacey meandering hooks that work to keep the songs interesting and the track listing fresh.

Brighter percussive tracks “Brand New” and “Waves” tell the story, respectively, of discovering a new romantic interest and then seeing the relationship break down into something that is less lovely than it once was.

Both pre-released singles, “Stay” and “End of the Line,” have a much more mellow tone. Forrel’s vocal work really stands out to me in these two tracks and the storytelling in the lyricism is rather captivating. “Stay” discusses being entangled in a relationship that has run its course and turned unhealthy. The track blends into “End of the Line,” which describes the difficulty of the bittersweet end to the toxic relationship, explaining they weren’t “meant to be.”

The effort’s final song, “Die No More” adds a bit of extra *umph* with the mixing of harmonies and tracking layers, which builds from the album’s pulsing R&B lo-fi foundation and ties the record together as its satisfying closer.

Overall, You Don’t Fly Away is a chill, lo-fi experience with solid R&B roots and dedicated storytelling throughout. If you’ve got a spare 15 minutes this Friday, I definitely recommend slowing down for a few to vibe with this album — you definitely won’t regret it.

TAGS: Kenny Forrel