Releasing a cover song—especially one with an original version that your listeners are most likely familiar with—is always a daunting task. In most cases, no matter how good your version is, it’ll never escape the shadow of the original.
When Daniel Caesar released his cover of Kanye West’s “Street Lights,” titled “Streetcar,” it’s safe to say he achieved the best–case scenario. Not only did the song win over the likes of VICE’s Noisey, it even attracted the attention of Esthero, who co–wrote “Street Lights” with Yeezy himself. Esthero called "Streetcar" better than the original—the version she herself wrote—and within months she and Daniel were in L.A. together, recording music. While there, Daniel recorded his recent single “Get You” with Kali Uchis, a sultry track that has expanded his fan base even further.
Since Daniel was raised in a devout Seventh Day Adventist family in a suburb of Toronto, it should come as no surprise that much of his music contains Biblical references in its lyrics and gospel influence in its sound and structure. And while this is a theme we have seen more of recently in popular music—think Chance the Rapper or the ubiquitous popularity of Ye's “Ultralight Beam”—Daniel’s music explores spirituality in a different way, one that leaves the listener with more questions than answers. Daniel is a sinner with an angelic voice. “Surely my sins have found me out,” he sings on “Death & Taxes,” “Spit on my grave, and kiss my mouth.”
The title of his 2014 debut EP, Praise Break, contains a double meaning that highlights this concept—while a break from praise is a tradition in some black churches in which people interrupt the sermon to shout praises for God, his break from praise is more literal: a separation, distancing and questioning of his religious upbringing. The EP’s lead single, “Violet,” features a music video that underscores the concept, with scenes split between Daniel singing in church and him imagining a passionate fling with a girl his age.
His second EP, Pilgrim's Paradise, continues this religious theme, while expanding on the cast of collaborators and the scale of the music. This creates a fuller, more fleshed–out product. The standouts include the aforementioned "Streetcar" and "Death & Taxes," along with the beautiful BADBADNOTGOOD collaboration "Paradise." In the past few months, he's given us three incredible singles: "Get You," the sun–soaked ballad "Japanese Denim" (a personal favorite) and the heart–wrenching "Won't Live Here." There's no word on what's next in terms of a project, but after doing interviews with the likes of Beats1's Ebro, you can expect some more beautiful music from Daniel soon. In the meantime, get yourself familiar.
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