Description
Breakthrough artist KeiyaA, christened as Chakeiya Camille Richmond, surprised her fans with another psychedelic maestro piece in 2025 – ‘hooke’s law.’ The album is a vibrant plexus of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, funk, and experimental music. After the acclaimed success of her maiden album – ‘Forever, Ya Girl’ – the music world pegged its hopes on this sophomore attempt, and one can say without a doubt that she lived up to these expectations.
Not many music lovers were surprised to notice KeiyaA’s ability to straddle multiple genres with grace; a skill she has honed from her versatile musical upbringing back in Chicago is mirrored in her latest project. From being influenced by sounds as diverse as Chaka Khan, John Coltrane, and even alternative rock bands such as Nirvana, she has managed to create a sound that is uniquely hers. KeiyaA has always admired the auterism of renowned musicians like Kate Bush and MIKE, and that influence seeped subtly into her craft, making it a heartfelt homage.
For those who appreciate the soul-lifting hymns of Frank Ocean, Solange, Erykah Badu, or the Exclusive rhythm of Kelela and L’Rain, ‘hooke’s law’ promises to be a delight. KeiyaA‘s singular blend of unconventional sounds is testament to her exceptional skill as a multi-instrumentalist. Her unabashed embrace of quirks and her confident venture out of the drab and overdone makes the album a refreshing change from the regular chartbusters.
KeiyaA’s album, ‘hooke’s law,’ goes beyond being just an auditory treat; it’s a theatrical journey that spirals with the nuances of self-love, queer identity, and societal prejudice. Her tracks premiere a powerful narrative, oscillating between analogies of love as spirals or springs – pulsating through the audience with their raw intensity. The album positions itself as a vibrant tapestry of musical references, painted vividly with twenty-one unique strokes. Each track plays with a different shade of the musical spectrum, quenching the thirst of any experimental sound enthusiasts.
The 19-track album consecrates KeiyaA’s status as a music alchemist. Given its striking similarity to her first play ‘milk thot,’ the album becomes a musical extension of her inter-disciplinary talent. As you embark on this journey of sonic exploration, KeiyaA safeguards us through her world, interweaving modulated tempos with the vibrant strains of P-Funk and unconventional gospel.
The appearance of Rahrah Gabor, previously witnessed on a Kelela‘s track, becomes the cardinal feature of ‘this time,’ one among the numerous standout tracks on the album. The record’s boundless versatility deliberately wavers between bouncy boom bap and Neptunes’ drum and bass signature. The long lineup of tracks only amplifies KeiyaA‘s value as a musician and songwriter, bringing to fore her knack at composing while infusing stimulating unpredictability into her music.
Meticulously designed, each track in the ‘hooke’s law’ album emerges as a self-contained capsule of rich jazz, avant-garde hip-hop, sultry R&B, resonating funk, and thrilling experimental music. It is a manifestation of her freshly assertive voice and vision, cutting through a saturated soundscape to bring a truth that resonates with the audience. Based on the depth, novelty, and complexity of the album, one can say ‘hooke’s law’ is arguably one of the defining soul records of 2025.
