Album Rec: "Lifetime" by Erika de Casier

a welcomed surprise by an amazing rising artist

It took one tweet for me to download this album. I trust music fans on twitter to give the best recommendations you can find on the internet, and this album is a great example of that and the reason why i’ll never quit. While I had never heard of Erika de Casier, this album makes me excited to check out all her previous releases since it is so dynamic, sexy, and hypnotizing. The consistency doesn't feel repetitive, and her voice is so clear in every single track that now I have a clear image of who she is and what she loves. Even if it is too early to call it, this might be one of the highlights of this year, especially for an artist with only 393.6K monthly listeners on Spotify.

“Lifetime” by Erika de Casier

My Top Choices

• Moan: it tipped the scales. This track made me open Substack to write this, so it has to be at the top of the list. Super sexy and sensual, yet it’s not trying to be. It just is.

• The Garden: The production is just really cool in this track. The structure and how things interact with each other work so well, as it keeps shifting and growing while it takes you into the song. It is super hypnotic, as I found I couldn’t stop listening while trying to multitask.

• Delusional: One of the more lyric-heavy tracks in the album, with a very recognizable sample in the chorus that is so fun and unexpected, but works insanely well to fill the atmosphere. This track is the type of song I would play on loop while walking since it is so easy to listen and daydream to.

Still Fucking Amazing

• You Can’t Always Get What You Want: A slower track that adds a new layer to the sexiness of the album, making it less simplistic than how it could be perceived on a surface level. A change of pace that is necessary and still cool.

• You Got It!: I really appreciated the different mixing of the vocal layer in the production. It switches the pace while expanding on the sound that De Casier explores with this album. The grounded vocals that aren’t as layered, with a back and forth between vocal tracks, is super cool and works really well to engage the listener.

• Seasons: Absolutely. It was close to making it into my top three because of how cool the production is. It feels as though there is no empty space in the song, yet you could float and disappear into outer space. If you like techno, experimental, weird tracks, this is the one for you.

Sexy As F***!

• The Chase: Another great song that could’ve made it into my top three due to its catchiness and flow. It is mostly a simple track, but it works well since other tracks can be way more complicated, giving the listener a break to slow down and just enjoy the ride.

• Two Thieves: This is my top four song, and it might threaten my top three the more I listen to this album. The rhythm with the laid-back atmosphere makes me want to dance, drive, and cry all at the same time. Even the last minute of the song changes the pace while it gets rid of the vocals to emphasize the production behind such an engaging song. A highlight and a must-listen for sure.

• December: Leans into the sexiness of the album with floaty, breathy vocals that remind me of Kali Uchis and her earlier works that are heavenly yet sensual.

• Lifetime: the title track that closes off an amazing album and makes you want to go back to the very first song to feel it all over again. Calm, romantic, yet engaging.

• Miss: It’s experimental, layered, and dreamy in a way that sets the tone for what’s to come next. A great introduction that shouldn’t be overlooked. The second half of the song, where she layers and harmonizes with herself, is so hypnotizing and beautiful, I can’t emphasize it enough.

A very important and insane note I have to make is that she is the only writer and producer of this album, showing her full expertise in her art and making it much more exciting to see what she does in the future as her budget grows. People are going crazy for this album, and so am I. I will be supporting Erika De Casier, and I think you should too. Ride the wave early. Stay tuned for more recs.