Veena (also known as Veena LP[1]) is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Heems, released on 23 August 2024 on record labels Veena Sounds and Mass Appeal India. It is Heems' second album of 2024, following the February release of Lafandar.
| Veena | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 August 2024 | |||
| Length | 33:35 | |||
| Label | Veena Sounds, Mass Appeal India | |||
| Producer | Sid Vashi | |||
| Heems chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Veena | ||||
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Background and release
editVeena was announced on 26 June 2024, the same day that lead single "Manto" featuring Vijay Iyer was released;[2] the title of the single refers to the writer Saadat Hasan Manto.[3] Several of Heems' family members appear in the music video for "Manto".[4] Three further singles – "Dame", "Rakhi", and "Flowers" – followed in July and August.[5]
Veena is named after both Heems' mother (who opens the album with a monologue[6]) and the veena group of string instruments.[7] Aside from the track "Rakhi", the album was produced by Sid Vashi, a psychiatrist from Melbourne.[1][7]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Pitchfork | 7.6/10[7] |
| PopMatters | 9/10[1] |
Luis Aguasvivas of PopMatters called Veena "an elegant, thrilling, and hilarious tightrope act" and "Heems' best record as a solo artist."[1] He described lead single "Manto" as "a hip-hop origin story of the highest order,"[1] and Tim Fish of Wire called the track "arguably the most poignant ever heard from Heems."[6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Veena" | 2:26 |
| 2. | "Ratatouille" | 2:16 |
| 3. | "Manto" (featuring Vijay Iyer) | 4:39 |
| 4. | "Bourdain" (featuring Mr. Cheeks) | 2:53 |
| 5. | "Underbelly" | 1:52 |
| 6. | "Rakhi" (featuring Pavvan & Ajji) | 4:03 |
| 7. | "Flowers" (featuring Navz-47) | 4:48 |
| 8. | "Juhi" | 1:10 |
| 9. | "Dame" | 3:28 |
| 10. | "Banshee" (featuring Cool Calm Pete) | 3:50 |
| 11. | "Righteous" | 2:06 |
| Total length: | 33:35 | |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Luis Aguasvivas (2024-08-21), "Heems' 'VENNA LP' [sic] Communicates Across Boundaries", PopMatters, retrieved 2024-10-09
- ^ Danielle Chelosky (2024-06-26), "Heems – "MANTO" (Feat. Vijay Iyer)", Stereogum, retrieved 2024-10-09
- ^ Anurag Tagat (2024-08-25), "Heems' New Album 'Veena': 'I Really Wanted to Make Multiple Worlds Around This'", Rolling Stone India, retrieved 2024-10-09
- ^ Sydney Brasil (2024-06-26), "Heems Announces New Album 'VEENA LP'", Exclaim!, retrieved 2024-10-09
- ^ Single releases:
- Tom Breihan (2024-07-17), "Heems – "Dame"", Stereogum, retrieved 2024-10-09
- Tom Breihan (2024-08-08), "Heems – "Rakhi" (Feat. Pavvan & Ajji)", Stereogum, retrieved 2024-10-09
- Chris DeVille (2024-08-21), "Heems – "Flowers" (Feat. Navz-47)", Stereogum, retrieved 2024-10-09
- ^ a b Tim Fish, "Heems – Veena", Wire, no. 489 (November 2024), p. 64, ISSN 0952-0686
- ^ a b c Bhanuj Kappal (2024-08-26), "Heems – Veena", Pitchfork, retrieved 2024-10-09