Two years have passed since New Orleans-born R&B singer and songwriter Lucky Daye (real name David Debrandon Brown) released his sophom*ore album, Candydrip, in 2022. Following his Grammy Award-winning EP Table for Two, Candydrip marked a new creative peak for Daye. He noticed a significant change in his life, characterized by increased awareness and a growing hunger for even greater achievements.
“I’m just trying to get more mixtures in the pot and gumbo it up,” explained Daye. “I like to just try things because I’m a fan of music. I’m unapologetic and I’m just feeling good while celebrating my life and everything around me. Everything else that’s not light got snipped.”
Daye, who broke out in 2021 with the Billboard 100 charting hit “Over,” has become a standout millennial R&B artist. He has also penned songs for legends such as Mary J. Blige, Usher, Ne-Yo, and Beyoncé. His modelesque style has made him one of the most fashionable personalities in the genre.
“I guess you could say I started from not knowing anything in fashion to knowing and being hungry to learn more because I've been able to put together what people consider nothing or hand-me-down as a child,” said Daye.
He describes his current era as fierce rather than a "rockstar era," as it might appear. Daye emphasizes that everything he and his team do feels right, regardless of how others might view their actions. It's about embracing a "do it" mindset.
“This whole year is just like ‘do it,’” said Daye. “I’m on my do-it type time.”
Daye kicked off 2024 with the release of the funk/soul fusion single “That’s You.” The track, co-written and produced by pop megastar Bruno Mars, emerged from a collaboration with producer D’Mile. This creative synergy often occurred in shared studio spaces, fostering an environment without pressure.
“For ‘That’s You,’ we did that at his crib,” said Daye. “He came up with a melody and an acoustic. I just threw the words on there, we tightened it up, and it was amazing.”
Daye released the dance-pop track “HERicane” in April and the alt-rock-inspired “Soft,” co-written with Austin Brown, in late May. His experimental third full-length album, Algorithm, will showcase this versatile musical approach. Daye aims to explore various facets of R&B and bring that diversity to his live performances when the album is released on June 28th.
“What we are planning right now is to show all sides of R&B,” explained Daye. “When I get on stage, it helps me discover different aspects of myself and my performance. It complements my movements and the way I sing. I’m the guy that gets excited and breaks stuff or gets mad and cries or fights. It’s about being electric. This whole era is electric.”
From the 80s Prince-inspired “Top” to the slower punk appeal of “Think Different” and the high-intensity opener “Never Leavin U Lonely,” Algorithm represents a clear progression from Candydrip. Daye is eager to explore all sides of himself, both celebratory and fearful. He acknowledges his audience's expectations but prides himself on being unpredictable, willing to push boundaries.
“I want to try new stuff,” said Daye. “I go to the edge, but I want to approach it. This whole album is about being fierce and being happy about being myself. I never felt that before or accepted myself until now. The more I get to know myself and be around people who can tell me about myself, the more I start learning and loving myself—the good, bad, and ugly. The whole algorithm.”
In an era where technological buzzwords like artificial intelligence and algorithms spark debates about the future of artistic expression, Daye embraces evolution. He focuses on setting trends and always looks ahead, rather than following what others are doing. Guided by his faith and learning from those around him, Daye combines these influences into his work. With Algorithm, he aims for listeners and peers alike to appreciate the creativity and simplicity of his music.
“To make simple music is very complex,” Daye explained. “My whole focus was to keep it pure. I didn’t want to curse too much because I’ve got a lot of little kid fans I didn’t even know about. This is just the purest form of who I am at this point.”
Stream Algorithm here.
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