When Najee Janey imagines the concept of freedom, he thinks big — airline big. “Welcome aboard flight 514, Janey Air, straight flight to Break Free,” a stewardess announces on “Around The World,” the opening track of the Roxbury artist’s new EP. The song may be a personal peace-out, with Janey’s voice and mind gliding through breezy R&B, but the “Janey Air” metaphor continues throughout Break Free, extending an invitation for listeners to ascend into bliss alongside him. (Or, as the final track “A Groove” states, to “do whatever the funk makes you groovy”).
“It’s breaking free of all titles and constructs, the lies you were told, the lies you tell yourself, the firmament of thoughts that trap you from knowing who you really are,” Janey explains to Vanyaland. Janey dropped the EP earlier this month (June 6) exclusively via Even, with plans for the project to hit all streaming services in the near future.
“This musical odyssey is more than JUST a NEW NAJEE JANEY PROJECT — it’s a path to new states of consciousness,” he shares on Instagram. As the captain of this journey, Janey allows listeners to sink into a relaxed but empowered mindset, asserting the value of personal freedom as he dodges any emotional turbulence.
On “Head To The Sky,” he raps about removing himself from anyone “pulling at his crown,” and paints birds in flight as the height of beauty on the seductive number “Have It Her Way.” Later on the project, over the buzzing electronica of “Bright Lights,” he affirms “You can’t take my joy / You can’t take my air.” From start to finish, Break Free is a smooth flight that encourages listeners to soar above life’s b.s. with a smile.
“Break Free is me ringing the alarm that I’m coming to shake things up by unapologetically being me,” Janey concludes. “The world will know and get a taste of what I have to say, and have a front row seat to the Najee Janey experience after hearing Break Free. It’s refreshing, it’s boisterous, it’s real, it’s uniquely perfect.”
Hop aboard Janey Air with “Head To The Sky” below, and find the entire EP here on Even.