Cashmere Cat

CASHMERE Cat is the perennial anti-social music nerd that spends more time in his own world than can seem likely. And that is meant as a compliment of the highest order, meaning he is a man who is not only very well versed in the art of sonics but also not plagued with the insecurities or with a need to conform, unlike his contemporaries.

He never did, from the very start. Described as alternative R&B, it’s hard to really find a genre that best describes the music that Cashmere Cat makes, which can range from heavy dubstep synths to cartoonish cowbells.

It’s hard to argue that the breakthrough for Cashmere Cat came from his work with Ariana Grande on her track Be My Baby, from her album My Everything, a couple of years back. What followed was a spot on her tour, another collaboration and agroup of A-listers to work with on his latest album, 9.

Looking at the list of collaborators, you wouldn’t be the first to be surprised at not knowing the name Magnus August Høiberg.

Wild Love is the backbone of the record, and was also the working title before Cashmere Cat settled on 9 as its final moniker.

Trust Nobody, Quit and Love Incredible feature three women at the very top of the music industry, and it’s no surprise that they are the most successful tracks of the album.But in that success also lies the tried-and-tested pop recipe, almost a hindrance to the producer’s eclectic style. Like shadows that loom larger, Europa

Pools, 9 (After Coachella) and Plz Don’t Go allow Cashmere Cat to express his sound with more freedom with Kacy Hill, Mø and Jhene Aiko, creating music that not only entertains but also brings forth new ideas.

4/5