By this time, you should have listened to Beyoncé's seventh studio album Renaissance about 101 times on repeat, from beginning to end. It's literally like a sonic version of a drug. None of us know why it's so addictive, but it's been an undefeated wave of sound since it dropped on July 29th. Since then, the power of each melodic record segueing seamlessly between one another, with reactive beats and ear bending runs by Queen B, Beyoncé. Renaissance Act I is truly exquisite. While provoking multiple forms of self-agency, I haven't heard in current music for years on end. I’ve been listening in cyclical sound dumps at any time of the day and since realized that although, her album has touched on so many derivative paths in music; there was a necessary need for a new spotlight on some very critical themes.
Like house music and the many themes and historical facets from the Black queer club scenes of the early '90s, that embed her tracks. It's all encompassing, the record tells multiple stories and one story that stood out for me amongst many is discovering my own soft life this summer and beyond. Beyoncé's latest album is made for every form of celebration you can dance to, it was created for freedom of expression and just letting go. An authentic evolution. Evoking exuberant happiness, euphoria, mindfulness, and self-confidence, all the while expanding her ever-growing musical pallet.
Within those expressive nouns lies where I found radical soft living. During these unimaginable times beyond the valley of the pandemic and through the rough tides of inflation, and the never-ending racial and gender inequities — now the ban on women's bodies. One cannot only have a possible nervous breakdown from all the grief and anxiety we face daily, but the current situation can also plummet your cynicism to no return. I haven't and hope to never reach that pivotal brink. The reason why the thought of tapping into a soft life during this entire summer was a part of my personal meditational reckoning. Beyoncé's album helped me evoke it through sound. Starting with "That Girl" blasting on as an establishing anthem and an aural adage to acknowledge not just myself, as a beautiful woman inside and out. It rings in my mind as a ratchet yet, ethereal affirmation of womanhood. “Cozy” is a like auditory treat enveloping me and body, while accepting all its beauty and flaws.
Hearing "Cuff It" play was a like experiencing what it really means to live and let go. I was immediately put in a place of happiness and whimsical flirtation of life. A softer side of my existence, a soft Life, specifically speaking to Black women is about seeking a relaxation and balance. I'd like to believe that we here at Fraîche have always tapped into that notion as an ongoing theme and mission, ahead of the coined phrase.
"Black women are taught to give to others — to serve. To look pristine. To be nurturing. To raise generations. To grow up and become strong Black women, who teaches us softness?" says Yasmine Jameelah of Transparent Black Girl. In her independent articulation of the soft life concept, I realized how important it is to prioritize myself beyond "self-care." Making deliberate acts of softness within as many moments as I can, in my daily life. Whether it involves beauty routines, cooking a delicious recipe from scratch, listening to ocean noise while sleeping or buying a Gucci bag. It can be whatever I want to do that makes me feel good, like a priority and identifying the soft pinkness of my femininity.
Much like how Beyoncé's track "Church Girl" touches on Black women and girls who can often feel shunned and/or judged about having duality with sexuality and a spiritual path, soft life allows us to reveal the multiplicity that makes us who we are. On "Plastic Off The Sofa," Beyoncé’s oozes vocal gymnastics while providing the very pink ombre hues of femininity, sensuality, and the pleasure of being a woman. Running right into "Virgo's Groove," which is an explosion, positioning your ears for full on leisure, luxury, and bliss. Straight through to "Pure Renaissance," where not only we hear the sweet echoes of the late great beauty, Donna Summer, Beyoncé once again pours into the track providing seemingly endless introspection and amusement.
Expounding upon the sonic bliss, I've been looking forward to experiencing all summer. Remarkably, creating a listening experience more meaningful than I could ever imagine during this time, a true renaissance.
