Ravyn Lenae’s hit single ‘Love Me Not’ was born from a hook and verse from Anderson .Paak a decade prior, and its surprising story is finally being uncovered.
The Chicago-born R&B star will make her debut at Coachella on Friday, April 11. Ahead of her set and her opening stint on Sabrina Carpenter‘s Short n’ Sweet tour later this year, Lenae caught up with PEOPLE about the ‘timelessness’ of her latest hit — which she says was born from a hook and verse from Anderson .Paak a decade prior.
Ravyn Lenae is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Born Rayna Atkinson in Chicago, Illinois, she began her music career at a young age, releasing her debut EP 'Nightmare Baby' in 2015.
Her unique blend of R&B, electronic, and indie rock has garnered attention from critics and fans alike.
Lenae's music often explores themes of love, relationships, and self-discovery.
She has released several successful projects, including the critically acclaimed album 'Midnight Moonlight'.
Ravyn Lenae is still sitting in the car outside of collaborator Dahi’s home, minutes after driving through some “thick L.A. traffic” just to get there. At the moment, she’s in the “early stages” creating her next album and has been locked in for around two weeks, she tells PEOPLE over Zoom. But while she’s been on the search for that “next feeling” in her music, the 26-year-old rising R&B artist can’t help but smile over just how much her fans — both the day-ones and new ones — are now connecting with that last feeling.
At the top of 2025, several months after its release last spring, Lenae’s track “Love Me Not” — the lead single off her sophomore album, Bird’s Eye — found a new audience with the help of a TikTok mash-up and listeners who just couldn’t quite pinpoint which decade the song hails from. That alone, Lenae says, has been enough to keep her working on new material.
“That’s been super inspiring for me to wake up and feel encouraged that people are discovering my discography and discovering me as an artist,” she says.
For those not tapped in or just now catching “Love Me Not” on their for-you-pages, Lenae has been chasing that next feeling since she signed with Atlantic Records as a teen back in 2016. She found quite a few fans with her Steve Lacy-assisted Crush EP in 2018, earned some critical acclaim and added notoriety for her debut album Hypnos in 2022, and is now experiencing a different level of attention nearly a year after releasing Bird’s Eye — her August 2024 LP all about perspective, with a little help from some new collaborators including Ty Dolla $ign (“Dream Girl”) and Childish Gambino (“One Wish”).
While the album surely had its fans at the time, “Love Me Not” has only fueled the buzz around both Bird’s Eye and Lenae herself — who next month is scheduled for her debut performance at Coachella, ahead of an opening slot on Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet tour in the fall.
The song’s creation story reveals a fascinating collaboration between Dahi, Anderson .Paak, and Solange. According to Lenae, Dahi had a skeleton of the song before she and Anderson Paak worked on it over a decade prior. The production took on a different life with guitars, and they built upon it.
Anderson Paak‘s hook and first verse were instrumental in shaping the final product, as Lenae notes that he is an icon she is heavily inspired by. Solange also played a significant role, with her 2012 hit “Losing You” being used for a mash-up that helped propel “Love Me Not” to viral success.
Solange is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and visual artist.
Born on June 24, 1986, in Houston, Texas, she rose to fame with her debut album 'Solo Star' in 2002.
Solange's music often incorporates elements of R&B, electronic, and hip-hop genres.
She has released several critically acclaimed albums, including 'Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Reflections' and 'A Seat at the Table'.
The latter won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2017.
Anderson .Paak is a multi-talented American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and drummer.
Born on February 11, 1986, in Oxnard, California, he rose to fame with his unique blend of genres such as R&B, hip-hop, rock, and soul.
Known for his energetic live performances, .Paak has collaborated with notable artists like Kendrick Lamar, The Free Nationals, and Dr. Dre.
He has released several critically acclaimed albums, including 'Malibu' and 'Ventura'.
Lenae‘s fan base has grown significantly as her music continues to gain traction on TikTok. The singer-songwriter is mindful of the attention and strives to maintain an authentic connection with her audience, acknowledging both old and new fans engaging in online discussions about her work.
The artist expresses amusement at the enthusiasm of day-one fans now interacting with newcomers, who may not fully understand the depth of Lenae‘s discography. She encourages these new listeners to delve into her older projects, which she finds “the most exciting thing about” artist discovery.
Lenae emphasizes the importance of understanding her artistic journey and sonic evolution over time. By exploring her earlier work, fans can grasp the story behind her growth as an artist.
As Lenae‘s debut at Coachella approaches, she is also gearing up for an opening slot on Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet tour in the fall. The opportunity to share her music with a broader audience and connect with Carpenter fans has left Lenae both excited and hopeful about the possibilities.
Despite the increased attention and schedule, Lenae remains focused on creating new music, inspired by the viral success of “Love Me Not.” With each passing day, she feels an influx of new ideas and opportunities, keeping her wheels turning as she pursues that elusive next feeling in her artistry.
