Whether you’re on vacation with family, hanging out with your friend group, or even taking time to yourself and relaxing, fun summer vibes and a solid summertime playlist always go together very well.
In 2019 alone, we got new projects from artists like Billie Eilish, Chance The Rapper, Khalid, and many other talented musicians. With that being said, there is an artist, in particular, this past month that dropped an album that made me appreciate them and their talent as an overall artist. That artist was none other than Canadian RnB singer, Daniel Caesar and his new album “STUDY CASE 01”.
After dropping his Grammy-nominated debut album “Freudian” two years prior in 2017, I had big expectations from Caesar on his upcoming album. On “Freudian”, which is his debut album, I was impressed with his very unique mix of Gospel and RnB concoction he was able to orchestrate. With this in mind, I was curious to see what direction he’d go in with his next record, “STUDY CASE 01”; he did not disappoint one bit.
Caesar not only refines the Gospel-RnB sound he pioneered on “Freudian”, but he takes it to a whole other level on his 2019 effort. He tackles topics such as life and death, good and bad, loneliness, and God. In an interview with Apple Music, he talks about how he got lost in his own head from the causes of artistic pressure, social media, and isolation of fame. “I was pretty depressed,” said Caesar. “For a while, I didn’t want to leave my house.”
Songs like the reggae-infused “CYANIDE” and the Brandy-assisted “LOVE AGAIN” are prime examples of songs that discuss toxic relationships that had an effect on Caesar’s mental health as he displays his lyrical presence expressing his troubles.
Caesar also opens up about his depression and trying to find himself on the song, “RESTORE THE FEELING”, which features Canadian artist Sean Leon and English singer Jacob Collier. In the first verse, he sings, “Been feeling like there’s nothing out there for me, still waiting on a feeling got away from me.”
Other critics recognize the 24-year-old’s great talent when it comes to his bold songwriting, soulful voice and experimental sound. According to review website Exclaim, they wrote a review on “STUDY CASE 01” and said, “It’s a solid effort by an artist who is, more or less, still a rookie, attempting to diversify his sound early on in order to avoid cementing himself into gospel music for the entirety of his career.”
Caesar really displayed his vulnerability and maturity through “STUDY CASE 01”, making it not only the best album of the summer but possibly of the year. If you want to listen to more Daniel Caesar and see what else he has to offer, I highly suggest checking out “Freudian” and “Pilgrim’s Paradise” to see his growth as an artist.
Evan Naemura, Online reporter
