Sound Advice: Daniel Caesar to Bring Critically Acclaimed R&B Tunes to Cincinnati

Daniel Caesar performs at the Andrew J Brady Music Center on Aug. 31. Photo: Raph_ph, Wikimedia Commons

This story is featured in CityBeat’s Aug. 23 print edition.

Daniel Caesar is embarking on a gauntlet of a world tour. The second leg of his “Superpowers World Tour” includes 33 stops, one of which is at the Andrew J Brady Music Center on Aug. 31.

Known for his insouciant demeanor and music, Caesar exudes a captivating air with his stage presence and sound. His velvety R&B vocals and lyrics that explore personal storytelling with existential and romantic themes grace moody and obscure soundscapes.

At times, his music feels reclusive and dark — most palatable alone — with stripped-back instrumentals and lithe, airy vocals arranged with gripping intention that cast him as a soft-spoken, introspective force. Other times, his melodies float effortlessly amid meandering and dreamy backdrops that affirm his vitality and agency as a prolific singer-songwriter.

His latest album, Never Enough, which dropped in April, builds on the style and reputation he’s developed since his gradual rise to fame starting around 2015. He continues to reach for new heights in his writing’s philosophical contemplations and the delicate intoxication of his sonic atmosphere. Curated to illustrate his experiences and lessons learned in life since grabbing his status as an acclaimed singer, each song feels like its own scene designed with strokes of allure, pride and skepticism.

On stage, Caesar’s voice will climb into its signature high frequencies and cruise through its utterly calm intones, bewitching the crowd and casting a blanket of potent emotion over the concert hall. He’ll work his way through a repertoire of songs manufactured to simmer in the heart, mostly consisting of tracks from Never Enough.

The show will be opened by singer Montell Fish, who’s known for his gospel-inspired take on lo-fi, experimental R&B — a sensible supporting act who should set the tone perfectly for Caesar’s set.

Daniel Caesar plays the Andrew J Brady Music Center at 8 p.m. Aug. 31. Info: bradymusiccenter.com.

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