Abdeali Saherwala | Contributor
Featured Image: Daniel Caesar’s debut studio album, which explores love, happiness, and despair, connects with listeners at multiple points in their lives. | Courtesy of Pexels
When it comes to Daniel Caesar’s new album, Freudian, released on August 25, the decision to listen to it might be the first unanimous one among the id, ego, and super-ego.
Freudian is the Canadian R&B singer’s first studio album, and a follow up to his highly-acclaimed 2015 EP Pilgrim’s Paradise.
The album enshrines theories of Sigmund Freud, a psychotherapist whose work in psychology brought upon new techniques of analyzing people’s behaviours and dreams. Freudian emphasizes the existence of libido, which according to Freud’s definition, is a mental process that generates erotic attachment.
His theory often hints at the importance of sexuality in human behavior. Taking from this, the album contains an exemplary complex set of human emotions and themes surrounding love, sex, and lust. Freudian allows more room for vulnerability and connectivity with its listeners.
“This body of work is about examining my most complex feelings and thoughts more directly. I’m more exposed than ever on this album. It’s like I’m in therapy, but it’s on display,” said Caesar.
The lyrics and soft melodic pieces in Freudian result in a feeling of fragility that can only be felt when you’ve either been head-over-heels in love or hurt by love. We listen to the album when we’re trying to cope with the idea of human imperfections and the failings of life: one second you’re experiencing elation, the next you’re feeling deep sorrow, thinking about all your lows.
“You can really hear the Frank Ocean in a lot of melodies throughout the album and I appreciate his lack of fear to wear his influences on his sleeve,” says Jason Rivas, a fifth-year Law & Society student.
“It’s an easy-going record for the most part and does well to establish a mood and tone. ‘We Find Love’ is more than just a single to me. It has carried me through a rough patch in my life and I’m happy I got to experience it live with my friends at Way Home,” he adds.
With lyrics like, “Ever since the day that I met you / My world’s been spinning out of control / I just need you to hold,” listeners are hit with the harsh truth that nothing in life, including love, lasts forever. This is a continuous lyrical epiphany that people are exposed to. Caesar gives us depth, and he doesn’t hold back on it.
Nicolas Sanchez Gordillo, a third-year Global Political Studies student, lavishly praised Caesar’s work by stating that, “the tracks, ‘Blessed’ and ‘Freudian,’ takes us deeper than just his gospel sound and actually touches up on his troubles with faith and his relationship with his mother. This is something that many of us always think about but never really have time to accept. Altogether, with his unforgettable vocals and lyrics, Caesar takes us through a journey of love, spirituality, and acceptance that is very hard to take on, especially with many musicians taking the easy way out with catchy beats and sub-par lyrics.”
The Toronto-based artist’s work is truly breathtaking. Caesar’s messages of love, compassion and spirituality echo throughout this album. Despite using ordinary words, his messages are profound and effective. It’s something that everyone should listen to at least once in their lifetime.
