Album Review of Daniel Caesar

Daniel Caesar’s compelling voice captivates listeners through songs exploring love, sex, money and spirituality. His independent-released EPs gained him popularity while performing alongside local acts like River Tiber and BadBadNotGood.

Freudian was his breakthrough album and earned him a Juno Award, propelling him into global stardom with its neo-soulful sound.

Born and raised in Oshawa

Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds, better known by her stage name as an engaging R&B singer-songwriter from Canada. Her captivating performances resonate with audiences as her songs explore love, heartbreak and other human experiences with emotive songs that touch hearts across her audience. Her unique blend of contemporary R&B and gospel makes for an engaging live experience; her lyrics explore love, heartache and other human experiences in intimate ways that compel audiences to listen closely and sing along to every note she sings.

Caesar was raised in a religious household and taught how to read the bible, yet his love of music forced him out on graduation night of high school. Working various jobs to support himself, Caesar would sleep in Trinity Bellwoods Park at night.

Freudian was released as Caesar’s debut full-length album in 2017 and instantly became a critical success, landing him on several best-of-the-year lists. Inspired by Frank Ocean production and Miguel-esque lyrics, Freudian provides an immersive journey into Caesar’s mind; featuring special guest appearances by HER and Kali Uchis bringing soulful touches to this record.

Influenced by R&B and Gospel

Being raised in a religious household had an incredible influence on Daniel Caesar’s music. He often incorporates gospel-influenced melodies into his R&B and soul compositions to produce an innovative blend that strikes a chord with listeners.

No stranger to Toronto, his style stands apart from its atmospheric and trap-infused R&B scene; nonetheless he manages to produce an album which appeals to a broad audience with genre-defying R&B, hip hop, rock, and jazz elements that allow him to connect more deeply with his listeners.

On “Cyanide,” Caesar discusses his experiences with toxic relationships through lyrics that convey both pain and heartache from unhealthy relationships as well as comfort from his soothing vocals, creating an album with both commercial appeal and creative experimentation that stands as testament to both his talent and commitment to crafting honest yet introspective works. As such, this album serves as both a gratifying gift to loyal listeners while welcoming new audiences.

Musicality

Caesar showcases his creativity and mastery in producing this album by exploring different genres and musical sounds, using voice effects and distortion to give his angelic vocals an unique edge. Each song captures different emotions ranging from tugging at the heartstrings to soothing and subduing souls; giving listeners something for every taste on this collection of music.

Caesar’s songwriting is often inspired by emotional experiences, while his poetic sensibility comes through in each song he creates. At his live shows, Caesar often sings about previous love experiences and the challenges associated with young romance.

Caesar quickly rose to fame after releasing two EPs – Praise Break and Pilgrim’s Paradise in 2014 and 2015 respectively – which earned him international renown and enabled him to perform at major festivals such as Coachella. His 2017 debut Freudian earned international praise, garnering him international acclaim and garnering collaborations with top artists including FKA Twigs, Lil Yachty and Brandy.

Lyrics

Caesar creates soulful tunes using both his vocals and an acoustic guitar, using real life experiences to form meaningful lyrics like, “My saving grace is faith, but pain is inevitable”. Additionally, he speaks about Toronto landmarks such as Montego Bay and Bloor Street from his past life.

His music features female voices for added depth and balance. Hits like “Get You”, featuring Kali Uchis, and “Best Part”, featuring H.E.R, are testaments to his skill at writing captivating tunes.

Caesar takes a deeper dive into the introspective aspects of his music with his latest release, NEVER ENOUGH, exploring themes of love, loss and maturity on this project that departs from Freudian and CASE STUDY 01’s more playful instrumental palettes and highlights his progression as an artist.