“We’ve got one hell of a story / You’re a hell of an author,” Kehlani declares on “Little Story,” the opening track of Blue Water Road. “You swear I’d leave you at the altar / Workin’ on bein’ softer…” These lines set the tone for an album steeped in self-awareness and personal growth. It’s about embracing vulnerability and owning up to mistakes, all in the pursuit of becoming a more evolved and authentic version of oneself.
This spirit of acceptance and introspection runs through Kehlani’s third studio album, a project filled with the same honesty that has defined their journey so far. Kehlani, a two-time Grammy nominee who identifies as a lesbian and uses both she and they pronouns, told Entertainment Weekly in 2020 during the release of their sophomore album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t: “I’ve been honest with every step of my career, even when it’s about my personal life. People have grown up with me and gotten to see my journey.”
For fans who have been following since their 2017 debut, this album feels like a natural evolution. SweetSexySavage was bold and unapologetic, capturing the raw energy of self-discovery. Then came It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, which turned outward to explore love, loss, and heartbreak. Now, with Blue Water Road, Kehlani sets aside the noise to dig deeper into self-reflection and growth.
The album’s sound mirrors this introspection. Most of its 37-minute runtime feels like a serene coastal drive, with breezy melodies that evoke the calming rhythm of waves and the warmth of a summer breeze. It’s undeniably “vibe music,” but tracks like “Any Given Sunday” (featuring Blxst) and “Up At Night” (with Justin Bieber) add some energy, capturing the excitement of summer romances. On “More Than I Should,” featuring Jessie Reyez, Kehlani dives into the complexities of temptation, admitting, “At this point, I’m too tired of holdin’ back / At this point, my fantasies got the best of me… Need to get your ass alone when nobody’s home.”
Through it all, Blue Water Road feels like a pilgrimage—a journey to a new phase of life where Kehlani is more at peace with who they are. As a mother, an artist, and a person embracing their flaws, they’re navigating life’s open road, full of twists and turns but always moving forward. They summarize it beautifully in the album’s closer, “Wandering/Wondering”: “I had to learn to trust and fall / Receive it all, surrender / The push and pull to break the wall / Rebuild it all, it found me.”
