By Ari Binyam (’28)
October 24th may have been a normal Friday for many people, but for R&B listeners it felt like Christmas Day. At 12:00am, Daniel Caesar’s new album Son of Spergy was released onto listening platforms. Ashton Simmonds, or professionally Daniel Caesar, is a singer / songwriter from Ontario, Canada whose work is acclaimed throughout the music community. He is of Jamaican and Bajan descent and grew up in a Christian household, which he moved out of at 17 to pursue music. Daniel started his career without many resources, including a home. Eventually, he began releasing music with the help of other artists who connected him with producers who had worked with other famous black artists, such as Drake and Jay-Z. Daniel was slowly on the rise, but the release of his song “Get You” with Kali Uchis boosted his career and caught the attention of many. Daniel has 3 other studio albums named Case Study 001, Freudian, and Never Enough, and 1 studio EP named Pilgrim’s Paradise.
Daniel also has an extremely unique musical style. Daniel takes inspiration from his Christian and Afro-Caribbean roots, filling his songs with references and samples of and his beliefs and culture to narrate his journey with faith and identity. Daniel’s soulful and emotional vocals amplify the depth of his music, portraying the mood and weight sought to be felt within each song. He also uses a variety of instrumental genres, such as rock and soul, and blends them with R&B and other contemporary styles. The distinct artistry and creativity of Daniel’s music is what sets him apart from other artists and is what attracts so many listeners to him.
Son of Spergy in particular gained a lot of traction leading up to and following its release. The new album features many fascinating aspects, like features from other artists including Yebba and Blood Orange. It explores Daniel’s grapple with faith and individuality through a shift in his musical style. For example, Son of Spergy has gospel instrumentals, vocals, and lyrics throughout the album. Daniel was able to promote the album by dropping a few of the songs weeks ahead of the album’s release, performing free and unexpected concerts across Canada and the U.S., and constantly plugging its release through social media. This led to praise ofthe album before it was even released, and even more love for it erupted immediately after its official drop. Among the large pool of listeners of Son of Spergy are some St. Paul’s students. Here are some of their opinions:
What would you rate Son of Spergy out of 10? Why?
Mateo L. (‘28): I would rate it 8.0/10 because I think this album is just a bunch of pretty good songs with a couple of bangers.
Kaelyn B. (‘28): I would rate it 9.0/10 from a general view because everyone can agree this is good music, but you would have to really enjoy and understand Daniel to rate it a 10/10.
What is your favorite song off the album?
Mateo L. (‘28): My favorite song is very easily Sins of the Father.
Kaelyn B. (‘28): I’m conflicted between Who Knows and Emily’s Song, but I’m probably gonna go with Emily’s Song. Root of All Evil is also really good.
What is your least favorite song off the album?
Mateo L. (‘28): This is hard to choose but probably Have a Baby with Me.
Kaelyn B. (‘28): None, because I’m obsessed with this album. It’s perfect.
How do you think some of the aspects of Son of Spergy compares to those of Daniel’s other albums, for example, style, vibe, or lyricism?
Mateo L. (‘28): I think these songs differ from his earlier stuff a lot in the instrumentals/beats. They changed to a more raw and string-based background, and it is rooted in lyrics more than in its vibe or sound.
Kaelyn B. (‘28): I feel like his style and lyricism are very similar, but I think if anything it’s very focused on his faith and journey. A lot of people thought it was gonna be a gospel album, but I knew it wouldn’t be. It’s more about his specific experience with so many things in his life, like his parents, love life, and faith. It’sdefinitely not like Case Study, more like a Pilgrim’s Paradise vibe.
Do you have a specific verse or lyric you like the most?
Mateo L. (‘28): My favorite verse is verse 3 in Sign of the Times.
Kaelyn B. (‘28): My favorite lyric is from Touching God, where he says, “What good’s your voice if no one really minds?”.
Regardless of the album only being out for a little bit of time, would you still say you connect to it?
Mateo L. (‘28): I connect to a select few of the songs, most specifically Sins of the Father.
Kaelyn B. (‘28): Every single song is a reflection of my mind, and I can really relate to this album. It feels almost like Daniel crawled inside of my brain and wrote all these songs.
Daniel Caesar’s music is clearly in the likes of many due to its authentic yet familiar nature. Daniel is able to speak to the masses through his songs, addressing topics ranging from religion to relationships to family dynamics. His poetic and insightful sound creates a sense of comfort for listeners, thus rightfully leading to his rise to favor and fame. Son of Spergy particularly captivates his journey with identity and self-acceptance and acts as an ode to his roots and experiences. Daniel’s talented, eccentric, and introspective artistry has called on the masses since the beginning of his career, and he will continue to grow as the massive sensation he already is.
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