With the Grammy’s coming up, R&B singer Daniel Caesar is a new face to the crowd earning two Grammy nominations for his debut album, “Freudian.”  He is nominated for Best R&B album and Best R&B performance against artists including Bruno Mars, Kehlani, Musiq Soulchild, and SZA. Winners will be announced during the awards show Jan. 28.  

Imagine strolling down a pathway with the breeze going through the willow trees and the leaves swirling through the wind. It’s peaceful, stress-free, zen-time energy begs for the need of an album to fit the serene setting. Go ahead and select “Freudian” by Daniel Caesar, released on Aug. 25. The album peaked at #25 on the Billboard charts mid-September and is a must-hear.

The Toronto native has been in the music scene since his EP “Praise Break,” in 2014. “Freudian” has been quite popular on the charts since its debut. The 10-track album is a poignant memory of “the most intense relationship of his life,” as he described on Apple Music’s “Up Next” Series.

The term Freudian refers to the importance of sexuality in human behavior. Through the music, Caesar explains what the word means to him and what effect it has had on him spiritually, mentally, and physically. “Freudian” is bigger than one person. It’s a testament to an off-limits type of love. One that once felt safe, but was twisted and turned into a reckless thrill.

The cover of the album is fitting that shows Caesar on a steep climb into the unhindered sky and fluorescent sun. It represents his climb towards love and a call for help to God. In one of the many hit songs, “We Found Love” he sings in falsetto, “Heaven help us, We’re on our own.”

It’s not the average radio-played song that talks about a superficial type of romance. What sets Caesar apart is his lyrical, instrumental, and vocal delivery. He’s that breath of fresh air for those who have become tired of lyrics lacking substance and the auto-tune driven R&B scene. Instrumentally, the lazy beats are dragged out effectively to help listeners become more engaged in Caesar’s vocal range. The elegance in the use of guitars, pianos, and choral arrangements aids him in showing the complexities of love.  The vocal tone of the album shows an unflashy sincerity about Caesar which is more in line with spiritual offerings than R&B melodrama.

The performance of the album is authentic. The use of simple language and his vulnerability towards the listeners brings the album into one cohesive project. This contemporary R&B singer mixes gospel, rock, and neo-soul reminiscent of the ‘90s R&B era. Maxwell, an R&B artist who was huge in shaping neo-soul was also set apart by his recurring theme of romantic monogamy apart from the vast lover-man contemporaries. Or take Erykah Badu for example. She is another neo-soul artist whose lyrics are highly personal. Caesar could be described as the lovechild of the two mixing their styles and authenticity.

“Get you” is the most popular song on the album obtaining over 40 million plays on Spotify. It is nominated for Best R&B Performance and deservingly so.. The mellowness of the song and the faint organ in the background gives it a gospel feel that not only connects with millennials but older generations as well. Another great melody moment happens towards the end of the bridge sung by Kali Uchis when Caesar slowly starts to come back in and then does overlapping verses with melodic parts sounding together to leave listeners melting in awe.

This album is one of the best to be released this year. It is a sentimental, descriptive, and a powerful work of art.  The instrumentation and vocal arrangements complete the album and could be enjoyed by any R&B enthusiast. Check this album out to help it get the attention it deserves.