DANIEL CAESAR

THE SOUL-BARING SINGER RUNNING FROM THE LIMELIGHT

Unsigned and understated, Canadian R&B upstart Daniel Caesar, 22, is a quiet enigma in an otherwise noisy landscape of artists vying for attention. After a period of odd jobs and sofa surfing, he self-released the album Freudian in August to critical acclaim. With little promotion, Get You, a track from the EP, has amassed more than 10m streams on Apple Music. Soaring and serenading, it’s a love-struck ode to romance, JULIE with backing vocals from Colombian singer Kali Uchis. ‘I knew it was the best song I’d ever written,’ he says, matter-of-factly, ‘but I didn’t know how much of an impact it would have.’ For every celebratory track, ADENUGA there’s an honest and passionately delivered counterpart. His emotional range is akin to Frank Ocean, and it’s not their only similarity: both are elusive and self-deprecating. ‘Sometimes, what I put out there is me acknowledging that I’m not as good a person as I want to be,’ he says. ‘I’m revealing my shortcomings.’ Daniel’s flaws may haunt him, but they pack a sonic punch. Freudian is out now