Ari Lennox is back to apply “Pressure.” The supremely talented songstress ushered in her “Soft Girl Era” this past spring, and now she’s pulling up just in time for cuffing season with her brand-new single “Vacancy.”
Lennox returned to the studio with legendary producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, who worked on the song with BoogzDaBeast. The trio freaks a sample of Mtume’s “Theme (For The People) (Opening)” from the group’s 1978 debut album Kiss This World Goodbye. They build on that solid foundation with a prominent bass line, tight drumbeat and well-placed horns.
This soulful groove makes for the perfect setting for Ari’s sultry, passionate vocals as she makes her move. She welcomes her love interest to come inside her house and gives him a tour with sexually-charged lyrics filled with slick double entendres.
“Got some walls that need painting, rearranging / See them legs on the table, kinda shaky / Got some pipes that be leaking, do you see it? You can stay here for the weekend, no leaving,” she sings on the first verse, ready for him to put in some work. She keeps the come-ons coming on the chorus when she purrs, “Ooh, baby, I want you to fill this vacancy / Come through / Ooh, baby, I want you to move in this space with me tonight.”
For the “Vacancy” visualizer, Ari cleverly sets the scene at a motel with its vacancy light on. Instead of playing out the song’s lyrics, she decides to bring the single’s cover art to life and turns heads dressed in a leather jacket, white tank, black hot pants and lace sarong. She alternates locations between singing outside in the parking lot and inside her guest room, dressed in a jeweled gown while singing to her reflection in the mirror.
Ari Lennox has done it again — “Vacancy” hits sonically, lyrically, vocally and visually. With this song’s release, it could mean that her long-promised third album may finally be on its way. While we anticipate what’s next, get into “Vacancy” right here, right now.
