Calvyn Cass is one of the more intriguing new artists on the horizon, that you are quite possibly, unaware of. Something of an enigma, there is little known about the artist, outside of what his music, offers. It’s rather ironic that so many question marks surround Calvyn Cass, because his personality is as bold and open, as they come. While he has yet to release a full length album, or an EP for that matter, his singles have shown a little more of who he is, with each subsequent release.
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With what we’ve heard from Cass, thus far, he is a skilled vocalist, and an emotive lyricist. “Enemy Number One” is the newest single by Calvyn Cass. The overriding narrative, seems to center around a scorned love. Calvyn is adept at spinning a web of ambiguity, as something of a metaphor for the complexities of love, and perhaps, gender identity. From what we can gather, Calvyn identifies as male, but his presentation is much more variegated. We used terms like flamboyant and androgynous in the past, but as gender roles continue to be sectioned into more specific subgenres, things just aren’t as simple as they used to be.
The production on “Enemy Number One” is an ideal blend of sheen and character. It sounds bright and meticulously mixed, but still has a heart and a sense of style to it. Cass is effortlessly vulnerable, and his voice has a mildly masculine quality to it, with a backdrop of existential melodrama. Imagine Dave Gahan, if he were heavily influenced by David Guetta, and you start to get a sense of Calvyn Cass. One of the most positive aspects of Cass’s music is that it could potentially be a bridge for younger audiences to discover things like Bowie or T-Rex.
The video for “Enemy Number One” does justice to not only the track, but to Cass, himself. It’s a painfully simple concept, which features a dimly lit background, and continuous, and at times repetitive, depiction of Calvyn, in various states of dress and undress. It’s a testament to Cass that this video is watchable from start to finish. His presence is undeniable, and his movements, while graceful and aerobic, are not particular flashy. Calvyn Cass knows how to seduce, neutralize, and ultimately, own a camera.
I-HEART RADIO: https://www.iheart.com/artist/calvyn-cass-35100740/songs/enemy-number-one-139303856/?autoplay=true
It’s a rare to see a figure as luminous as Calvyn Cass at this stage of his career. His organic, but calculated charisma is one of the things missing in modern pop stars. So many of them are perfect on the eyes, but Cass is as great on the psyche as he is on the eyes. He looks through you, as opposed to simply being hyperaware of you looking at him. He is an unprecedented blending of masculine and feminine influences, without insisting upon any single component of his identity. Do yourself a favor, and seek out “Enemy Number One”. You’ll have bragging rights amongst the masses, that you were one of the first to discover, Calvyn Cass.
Chadwick Easton