Between her last EP release in 2021, We’re Going to Be Just Fine, and her current 18-track album ON AIR, Filah Lah Lah has undergone significant personal growth. The result is an album that celebrates a fresh start and a renewed sense of self.
“I love albums, and I know that albums have such a different feel these days because our attention spans are so much shorter. But a lot of my favorite albums are long albums. From the likes of Solange’s A Seat At The Table with 21 tracks, Ctrl by SZA has 14 tracks with a deluxe version. I’ve always loved drama in an album because it takes so much work to make one and put your everything into it.
“So I’m not interested in instant gratification; I’m not interested in making a couple of Tiktok viral songs and then we put them in one project and then call it a day. There are albums that came out 30 years ago that I’m only discovering now, and those are albums with discoverable value; that’s what I feel ON AIR has. It’s a slow burn, but in five to ten years from now, people will marvel at the music because it grows on you,” she said.
Filah Lah Lah
Filah Lah Lah, real name Reabetswe Fila Ranamane, describes the general theme of the album as anchored on finally sounding like yourself, finally sort-of figuring out the spaces that you fit in artistically, “even if it is just for this moment but being so sure of it and owning,” she said.
“We’re Going to Be Just Fine was definitely like a breakup project. It was definitely like a farewell to a certain person, but also a goodbye to a certain version of myself. It is sadder and melancholic. So, when I started making the music for ON AIR, it didn’t feel as drab and as apologetic, but here, I have a much stronger sense, and it’s more like I am leaping into it. I am more confident.
“And that took three years to figure out—to get out of a situation, even mentally, and forgive myself and the other person, and even forgive life for not being fair,” she said.
During those three years, with breaks for reflection and sometimes experiencing existential crises, she continued to write music spontaneously. Some songs were written long ago but only came to life now.
“The most challenging tracks to write were definitely “Vaughn’s Song” and “Fall”, in a sense that they don’t really touch on personal struggles within myself or personal struggles in relationships but rather touched on loss. Those are people who have been gone for a while, but I’ve not been able to write about them. So, fixing my pen to actually say something that was true about how much loss stinks, was hard,” she said.
Filah Lah Lah
Some songs she shares allow her to break free and offer that larger-than-life live experience that she can’t wait to share with her fans.
The music on ON AIR is vibrant and unapologetic, reflecting her newfound clarity and confidence.
ON AIR is packed with energetic songs and interludes, weaving together a story. It is lush and yet carries a sense of minimalism in the arrangements that allows her voice and lyrics to take center stage. Filah Lah Lah’s vocals are a standout feature, characterized by their smoothness and emotional depth. Her voice is both powerful and soothing, often delivering lyrics with a sense of intimacy.
While listening, there’s a distinct and immersive feel that blends elements of R&B, neo-soul, and alternative sounds, creating an atmospheric experience characterized by dreamy soundscapes that often evoke a sense of introspection and emotional depth.
Filah Lah Lah
“More than anything, with this album I want people to know that I was here and that I had something to say. And if it spoke to them personally, that means everything to me. For them to know that they are not alone and that they have a sonic confidant in me.
“Now that the album is out, there is definitely a sense of relief. I definitely do feel like I’ve given birth to something, and there’s this relief that comes with it. But also, while there is this sense of relief of giving birth, there’s that immediate fear about how the world is going to affect this baby. So, it’s both those feelings at once,” she said.
ON AIR comes with beautiful visuals that will take the listening experience to a whole new level, positioning the star to make history as the first R&B/Soul female artist in Mzansi to release a visual album, marking a major milestone in her successful career.
