Raw Soul’s album, "Journey // Destination" comes with a heavy sigh; this album feels as much like therapy as it is a celebration of one man's journey toward self-actualization. Based in Vancouver but proudly rooted in the duality of his Libyan background and Canadian upbringing, Raw Soul creates a body of work that can truly be regarded as nothing less than a tribute to self-discovery. Moreover, the development of the project puts great emphasis on the process that one goes through when unearthing oneself.
"Journey // Destination" places a focus on the tension between striving and arriving-ceaseless characters that Raw Soul exudes with aplomb. Drawing on his inspirations from icons such as Kendrick Lamar and Nas, Raw Soul leads it with storytelling metaphors. The sonics range from soulful, jazzy-type grooves to punchy minimal beats, all stitched together by Raw Soul's seamless flow with a keen ear for dynamic contrast.
"Terra" sets the tone with its spatial production; a layered bed of synth washes, a subtle bass hum, and a beat that switches between invitingly spacious and urgent. Raw's delivery is well-planned: something meant to infiltrate but never overwhelming.
The album then flows easily into "To The Top," an upbeat yet grounded song with a warm bassline and a snare-heavy groove that is infectious. The hook here shines bright with melodious exuberance; it is catchy and dripping with optimism.
"How That Sound?" knows how to juxtapose clear, soulful samples against heavy basslines, pushing and pulling like the confidence that oozes out of Raw Soul's bars.
In the middle of the album, Raw Soul shows his versatility with "Monk"; the production gets minimal, sustained by a looming kick pattern and some keys eerily shadowing the music. Whereas, "A While..." is an audio shout-out, with its jazzy texture sounding like a reminiscence of the golden age of hip-hop.
"2012" presents itself as an exquisite, nostalgic, cinematic cut-in that stops between open strings and subtle hat-like shuffling. This is maybe the kind of song that sticks around long after it's done; a modest victory from an album that revels in grandeur. The title track "Journey // Destination" ties everything together, bringing the thematic and sonic strands into one coherent whole that serves as the stronghold of the album.
Production is one of the immense strengths of the album, making a tight record, while a special note for mixing and mastering, goes to Raw Soul himself: Not an element could be said to lack intent, not a sound is left to chance.
With "Journey // Destination", Raw Soul presents an album that feels timeless and makes a case for multiple listens, revealing new layers and detail on each spin. It marks a huge milestone, a step in the promising and evolving artistic direction of Raw Soul, a grand celebration of what has been achieved, and a signal of future promise.
"Journey // Destination" by Raw Soul is a journey not to miss, a rich, detailed journey through various effects in music. Stream the album now to witness her amazing talent. Don't forget to follow Raw Soul for any new projects and shows.