After releasing a compelling new music video, Oscar-nominated songwriter and producer Dixson has released the first three songs from his forthcoming project 004DAISY.
Immersing us in breathless beat spasms, “Day-Off” finds an untiring Dixson accepting extra shifts to be close to an irresistible partner and on the dance floor. It segues into the Tinashe-assisted “Heat” unnoticed. You’re immediately reminded of Earth, Wind & Fire by the shrieking horns at its onset. Their voices blend like a well-balanced health shake, ridiculously creamy indeed.
Dixson rewards us with his versatility on “Barely,” dramatically rapping for a big part across the production of syrupy keys and metallic guitar strums. He returns to his singing persona, ending with a ’90s vocal run cliché.
004DAISY arrives Sept. 16 via Roc Nation. Excluding the three newly-shared tracks, the ten-song set also includes the Sevyn Streeter-assisted “Cherry Sorbet.” Dixson unveiled the duet’s impressive visual earlier this week in addition to announcing his upcoming project.
His follow-up to last year’s DARLING not only features Streeter and Tinashe, but also Vic Mensa, Stolen Nova and Michael Armstead.
“When I write songs for other people, I always embody a character. I try to give them something more than just themselves. I want to do that for myself in this music,” Dixson expressed to Rated R&B about his two projects debuting this year. “The first project is the lead-up and interlude to this bigger character. You’re going to hear it on the second project that comes out.”
Dixson had an eventual 2021. He became the second face of Rated R&B’s Front + Center series, had moderate R&B chart success with the song “Kream,” and released a visual for his India Shawn-assisted tune “Yours.” Additionally, his debut EP DARLING gained acclaim on Rated R&B’s Best R&B Albums of 2021 list.
This year started even better for Dixson. He commenced with Best Original Song nominations at the Golden Globes and Oscars for his participation in Beyoncé‘s “Be Alive” for the King Richard soundtrack. He later worked on two popular songs (“Virgo’s Groove” and “Pure/Honey“) lifted from her seventh studio album, Renaissance.
Stream “Day-Off,” “Heat” and “Barely” by Dixson below