GENA, the collaborative project from Liv.e and Karriem Riggins, unveil their debut album The Pleasure Is Yours, out now via Lex Records. The record marks the first full-length statement from the duo, merging two singular creative voices into a shared language that feels instinctive, exploratory, and alive.
Built from a series of virtual sessions, the album captures the spark between Liv.e’s freeform vocal imagination and Riggins’ masterful rhythmic architecture. Previously released singles “Circlesz”, “HOWWEFLOW”, and “Lead it Up” offered early glimpses into their chemistry, while the full project expands into a mischievous, shape-shifting blend of contemporary soul, R&B, and hip-hop. Alongside the album, GENA also release a new video for “Douwannabwithastar!”, directed by Mackai Sharp.
Last month, the duo made their sold-out live debut at ICA in London, earning rave reactions. Their growing list of rare 2025 performances has included appearances during Riggins’ residency at Nublu in New York City and a set at the Detroit Jazz Festival. To celebrate the album’s arrival, GENA host a special release show tonight at DiDi in Los Angeles.
At the core of The Pleasure Is Yours is a sense of motion and discovery. Riggins’ fluid, percussive frameworks create open terrain for Liv.e to navigate freely—her voice bending, stretching, and locking into rhythms with an organic unpredictability. Contributions from musicians such as Isaiah Sharkey, James Francies, and Telemakus further enrich the album’s palette, complementing the duo’s evolving dynamic without overpowering it.
“Liv.e inspires me to be boundaryless and genreless,” Riggins shares. “I learn as I go, and I want people to witness all of that energy in the music. It’s also our pleasure. Making this record, I feel we’re hitting on so many different things—this is what the world needs.”
The Pleasure Is Yours feels unburdened by expectation—two artists leaning fully into instinct, chemistry, and creative trust. The result is a debut that doesn’t just introduce GENA; it establishes a new sonic space carved from their collective strengths.
The Pleasure Is Yours is available now via Lex Records, alongside the official video for “Douwannabwithastar!”.