Jessie Reyez is bringing her fourth studio album, A Little Vengeance, to Oakland’s Fox Theater on Nov. 6. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter’s stop is open to all ages.
Reyez released A Little Vengeance on June 12 via FMLY/Island Records, a project Universal Music Canada describes as navigating “the highs and lows of love through stories of yearning, self-discovery, and reckoning with former lovers.” The label notes the album is structured around three interludes and features Ty Dolla $ign, Muni Long, D Smoke, Lekan and RAAHiiM, along with a Bob Marley sample. Reyez carries the title of Grammy-nominated and six-time Juno-winning singer-songwriter, according to the same release.
The Fox Theater listing includes the Oakland date on Friday, Nov. 6, and says the show is open to concertgoers of any age.
A Breakup Album Built Around Restraint
Critics have zeroed in on the album’s central tension: anger that never curdles into retaliation. According to a review from Shatter the Standards, Reyez “maintains a mental tally of everything she could do to the man who wronged her and chooses not to do them,” with the project’s arc ultimately bending toward release rather than revenge. The outlet points to lyrics stating, “when I let it all go/I’ll find a way to make my peace,” as evidence of that turn toward resolution.
That sense of aftermath threads through individual tracks as well. On the song “N.Y.F.F.,” Reyez “dissects the collateral from parting ways with a loved one, acknowledging where separation truly leaves her – alone again,” per a review from ReadRange. It’s a portrait of heartbreak less interested in getting even than in simply getting through it.
A Songwriter With a Deep Résumé
Beyond her own catalog, Reyez has built a reputation as a sought-after collaborator. The Fox Theater notes she has penned songs for Dua Lipa, Sam Smith, Kehlani, LISA of BLACKPINK and Calvin Harris.
A Little Vengeance explores the highs and lows of love through stories of yearning, self-discovery and reckoning with former lovers. For Bay Area fans, the Nov. 6 show offers a chance to hear that reckoning performed live.
