Album Review: Lucky Daye Shows All His Colors on ‘Candy Drip’
Lucky Daye’s sultry album mixes ingredients of funk, lo-fi, and soul to add a new flavor to modern R&B. Candy Drip hits the sweet spot.
Written by Mahina Adams
Photos courtesy of Adrienne Raquel
Ever since entering the music scene in 2018 with the drop of his first EP, “I,” Louisiana-born Lucky Daye has carved his spot into the R&B industry. Born David Brown, the 36-year-old grew up in a strict Christian cult that restricted access to secular music. Brown left the church after eight years and immersed himself in classic R&B, quickly discovering his musical talents. Lucky Daye explores the sweet and slow sounds of this influence on his sophomore album Candy Drip, which is sure to be a treat for lovers of steady and romantic music.
Filled with spoken word and music alike, Candy Drip is an ode to women and the complications of love after falling for them. The first track, simply titled “Intro,” describes the beauty of women and their hold on him, setting up alluring and seductive themes of the rest of the album and its sultry piano melodies. The almost hour-long record follows the highs and lows of Brown’s relationships and his own toxicity within them. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Daye describes his music as for those not wanting to “fit in,” saying he wants to shake up the notion of blindly following trends. His music dives into his deepest yearnings and anxieties as it booms over bass lines and vibrant horns. Brown’s fusion of genres certainly shakes up the listener as they witness his take on a classic sound inspired by artists not usually associated with each other, including NSYNC, Curtis Mayfield, and Lil’ Troy.
On Candy Drip, no music genre is untouched. Tracks like “NWA” combine elements of trap and soul with the help of a Lil Durk feature. Its catchy tune pulls in listeners and continues to showcase his talent as a creative individual through his usage of soulful lyrics layered over harsher drum snares. Brown still honors the oldies but goldies, sampling Usher’s “You Don’t Have to Call” on “Guess.” This song highlights the crooner at his most intimate: his voice aligns with the smoothness of 2000s R&B. Using such a famous sample is not an easy feat, but Brown pulls it off, his twist on the classic stands strong alongside the original.
The titular track grabs listeners with its sultry lyrics, describing the divine beauty of women but also how they take him down fast and unexpectedly. The opening tracks are a lot more sentimental than the second half of the album, which gets more into the singer's own toxicity. The lines “Pretty white dress / How’d he get between us? / And I know nobody knows” displays Brown’s fall for this mystery woman despite seeing red flags. The title track “Candy Drip” pulls the listener in with its captivating bass and snare rhythm. Brown ’s classic smooth ballad tone shines on the track and the song mixes elements of R&B, funk, rap, and spoken word to show his multidimensional talent as an artist and creative.
The candy-inspired elements also bring some quirk to the album. The first interlude, “Candy Drip (Interlude)” uses some clever wordplay to describe women as different candies: “Take me from zero to Mars / Straight through your milky ways, for that Kit Kat / Yeah, break me off a piece of that.” The song’s sound is reminiscent of late '70s and early '80s soul. Brown intertwines multiple interludes with a built-in intermission to change up the pace before flowing the next R&B heavy song, showcasing his talent for effortlessly blending different sonic styles. The second interlude, “Touch Somebody (Interlude)” sounds similar to the style of Prince and incites some '80s R&B nostalgia.
The album slows down after the more mellow “Compassion” leads into the second half’s softer tunes. Brown experiments further with synthesizers and layered vocal harmonies. Midway through the album, the descriptions of his relationships become even more emotional, backed by the moody vocals on his previous single “Over” showing the artist's more destructive side. “Over” encapsulates Brown’s songwriting abilities as he sings, “Why you slow down? / Don’t stop this green light.” His vocals showcase a range not implemented in previous tracks. “Over” borrows a sample of Musiq’s “Halfcrazy” to give it a soul flair as well. Daye’s use of a moody bass line over an acoustic guitar demonstrates the toxic and combative nature of the relationship. On the closing track of the album, “Ego,” Daye adds to the melodic sounds of the album with vocals sung over a church choir and laid back instrumentals, aiming to work on himself in order to make his relationships work. The upbeat instrumentals in the beginning of the album, such as on “God Body” or “Feels Like” shift with the attitude of the album as he becomes more serious and redemptive in the closing tracks.The sounds of each song are expressive of what Daye feels about both himself and women, whether he is infatuated with them or confused on what he wants out of his relationships.
With six Grammy nominations under his belt, even before the release of Candy Drip, Lucky Daye is sure to make an even bigger mark in the music industry in the future. His colorful take on a classic genre is worth a listen and Candy Drip provides a perfect representation of who he is as an artist. Continuing to experiment with his sound and personal brand of slick R&B is only the beginning of Brown’s influence as he continues to make our stars burst.