Ranika creates amazing sonics w/ release “In The Grey ep”

What’s compelling about Ranika is how she seems comfortable in ambiguity, her lyrics often hover in unresolved emotional territory. She doesn’t present a fully polished persona, but rather someone perpetually in flux, which makes her feel human and immediate..

“In the Grey” doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s more of a vignette collection than a full narrative arc, but that’s a strength in this case. The EP feels like walking through a dimly lit gallery, each piece casts its own hue, and the transitions matter as much as the individual works..

The title itself, In the Grey underscores the central conceit, this is not black and white, win or lose music. It luxuriates in the in between. There are moments of clarity and plaintive urgency, but also spaces of hesitation and softness..

The instrumentation leans on minimalist sparse percussions, drifting synth pads, & occasional touches of guitar or warm keyboard tones. The production never tries to overshadow the voice rather, it frames it, often with subtle dynamic swells and delicate layering. There’s a recurring use of silence or near silence, giving the music breathing room. In some tracks, Ranika’s voice is almost unadorned, which highlights how tonal shifts, slight inflections, or background echoes carry weight..

Vocally, Ranika strikes a balance between control and vulnerability. She doesn’t chase big runs or forced belts instead, she lets the poetry of her phrasing and micro dynamics take the lead. It’s the kind of singing that benefits from close listening, you’ll catch small vocal turns, hesitations, or soft tonal shifts that reveal more each time..

Lyrically, “In the Grey” often meditates on relational uncertainty, the push-pull between intimacy and withdrawal, clarity and confusion. Lines linger, but she doesn’t always resolve her questions. That sense of open endedness can be frustrating to some listeners, but it also makes the emotional terrain more authentic. “In the Grey” is a promising, assured EP from an artist staking a claim in the delicate territory between vulnerability and restraint. It doesn’t shout, but it resonates. In an era where many R&B / soul releases aim for maximal hooks or showy production, Ranika’s choice of subtlety and hesitation feels refreshing and potent..

For listeners who crave soundscapes that open up over repeated listens, this EP delivers. For the next step, I’d love to see her push further into contrast — perhaps juxtaposing these quieter moments with bolder, more expansive sonic territories — while maintaining her core sensitivity.

Take a listen & let us know what you think..