Written By: Oliver Heffron
The ascending r&b artist Cautious Clay blends smooth melodies, diverse musicality, and endearing lyricism on his debut album, Deadpan Love, an honest, hilarious, and heartbreaking contemplation of modern relationships. Cautious Clay broke onto the scene with his 2018 hit-single “Cold War,” a track that highlights his vocal talents and lyrical knack for portraying the emotional realities of 1 love in a refreshingly honest frame. Deadpan Love builds on this musical framework and expands in every direction as Clay’s melodic feel flows over both multi-layered r&b jams like the seductive “Karma & Friends” and stripped-down soulful lamentations like the project’s lead-single “Wildfire,” creating a diverse project which sincerely depicts the conflicts, contradictions, and hilarity of modern love.
On the album’s opener, “High Risk Travel,” Clay’s voice immediately seizes control in a stream of conscious which presents Cautious as an endearing romantic protagonist through his self-deprecating jabs and tormenting insecurity. The track synthesizes the album’s musical and lyrical elements into a coherent thesis, slowly constructing a jazz-centric sonic garden which focalizes Clay’s vocal command as he presents the project’s lyrical focus and attitude: “Lately I’ve been acting crazy about ya / There’s nothing to do / My heart is in two places.” The following track, “Shook,” builds off this rhythm and continuity with an infectious ode to unconventional relationships and the paralyzing fear of codependence over a hip-shaking bassline.
The first half of Deadpan Love progresses this rhythmic r&b sound with the Saba-featured “Strange Love” and boom-bap drums and impressive guitar solo (done by Clay himself) on “Dying in the Subtlety” before shifting in the second act to more acoustic, minimalist instrumentals which demonstrate Cautious Clay’s vocal gifts and songwriting gifts. “Whoa” demonstrates Clay’s pop-star propensity as he fills the more conventional song structure and instrumental with his melodic ingenuity and impressive vocal range. “Roots” shows off Clay’s heart-wrenching falsetto and poignant lyricism as he delivers an undeniably catchy depiction of heartbreak: “But you got your eyes down / You say you’re gonna leave / Gotta clean house / Just another rinse repeat.”
Photo Courtesy of Cautious Clay Instagram
After giving the world a peep of his vocal talent and lyrical charisma with his breakout in 2018, Cautious Clay fills in the rest of the portrait with Deadpan Love and ensures his place as one of the r&b’s most exciting and engaging new voices.