Raeja knows what she wants on the warm, soulful ‘What I Want’
Melbourne has never really had a problem with music that sounds better after dark.
There’s a whole world of jazz, soul and R&B tucked into the city’s bars, small venues and late-night rooms. Lately, those sounds seem to be getting a little harder to separate, which is probably a good thing.
Raeja feels right at home in that space. But while ‘What I Want’ has the warmth you might expect from a neo-soul track, she’s doing something a little different with it.
The Melbourne singer-songwriter has a strong R&B instinct, but her voice feels distinctly jazz-minded. She gives things room to breathe. There’s phrasing, restraint and a sense that she knows exactly when to push a note and when to leave it alone.
The song opens with guitar and a little late-night saxophone. It immediately puts you somewhere after hours, somewhere between the last drink and the walk home.
Then Raeja’s vocals come in.
They are smoky, soulful and incredibly controlled. The verses feel close and intimate, while the chorus opens up into bigger, polished pop vocals. It’s a nice contrast, and she never pushes the song further than it needs to go.
And that chorus sticks. Proper earworm territory.
That’s probably what I like most about ‘What I Want’. For all its jazz, soul and R&B touches, Raeja still understands the simple pleasure of writing a chorus you want to hear again.
The song is about knowing your worth and having the courage to ask for what you actually want. There’s vulnerability in that, but not much self-pity. Raeja sounds like someone who has already made up her mind.
There’s nothing cooler than a woman who knows what she wants.
‘What I Want’ arrives as part of a busy year for Raeja, following her self-titled debut EP in 2025 and a run of singles and collaborations throughout 2026. There’s another release coming in October, too, this time with a B-side attached.
That makes ‘What I Want’ feel less like a one-off and more like another piece of a sound Raeja is gradually putting together. I’m curious to hear what she puts next to it.
For now, though, this one is easy to like. Warm, sensual and quietly confident, with a little saxophone to make the whole thing feel like midnight.
Listen to ‘What I Want’ below.
