Toronto 2014 - Daniel Caesar, Mustafa
Daniel Caesar infuses slow-jams & soul on ‘NEVER ENOUGH’
It was early February 2018, I was standing in a queue outside a sold-out Koko theatre in Camden, London. It was raining, and the lights of the venue reflected off the ground. Ticket touts were swarming around me, trying to re-sell tickets for 200 pounds that I had bought for 20 quid on release. But I wasn't giving up those tickets. This felt like the biggest event happening in London that night. The energy as we wandered into the venue was high, and it was my first time at Koko. The place is unlike any other gig venue I've been to before. What used to be an old theatre has this stunning architecture inside that totally transported me back in time as I climbed the stairs to the balcony of what used to be an old box. Staring down at a stage that was decorated as if it was someone's bedroom, with a rug laid out below flickering lamps and furniture placed across the stage. I was trying to work out what was just about to happen when the background music paused, the crowd quietened, and the lights dimmed. Then, the Grammy-nominated artist Daniel Caesar walked out on stage, one hand lighting candles across the stage and the other holding a freshly brewed cup of tea. He’s the only artist I've ever seen holding a cup of tea on stage like it's a beer bottle, ready to tell an incredible brand new story to a crowd of 2000. It was a moment that has stuck with me to this day.
Today's One of One comes from Daniel Caesar, an artist who's a master of creating music that sticks with you. His latest album showcases his soulful vocals, memorable guitar riffs, and a maturity that comes from stepping up as producer. He guides you through the smoky haze of his slow-tempo jams, passing by a few big collaborators. Some, like Omar Apollo or Summer Walker, you could expect, while others take a sidestep, like Ty Dolla $ign or Rick Ross. But he sticks to that tranquil style that he's known for throughout, not tempted by the poppier sound that found him so much success collaborating with Justin Bieber on "Peaches" back in 2021.
My favorite collaboration on the project comes from someone who shares his same energy, a poet by the name of Mustafa who grew up in Toronto alongside Daniel Caesar. Mustafa’s verse in "Toronto 2014" is a melody that could be from a hip-hop track if sped up, but it compliments the track so well. It's a song that finds its joy in the harmonies, reminds me of his debut album Freudian in the breaks, and just leaves the right amount of space to let you breathe and take a sip of tea.