Coming off the heels of his gorgeous debut album, Where I’m at Now, a steady tour run with labelmate Tasha, and an exciting pair of performances at SXSW, the New York City-based producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, S. Raekwon (aka Steven Raekwon Reynolds) springs forward with a new EP of loose and joyous indie-pop gems. On Where I’m at Now, S. Raekwon touched on everything from youthful romance, estranged familial relationships, past friendships, and the complexities of biracial identity in America. With I Like It When You Smile, he continues to lean into some of the more gauzy and cerebral elements of his debut record while also balancing the somberness with a fresh sense of spirited optimism.
On the opener “Talk,” he croons gracefully over romping drum beats and a steady piano line with bits of colorful ad-libs poking through the seams. It’s free-flowing and conversational. The kind of song you might hear at a summertime house party the moment your friends start to show up and things really take off. A perfectly jam-like tune that sets the whole mood for the rest of the evening. That vibe is gently countered with the slower moving, D’Angelonian centerpiece, “Honey”. S. Raekwon makes love songs that can fill up the whole room. He sings the beautifully simple line “Don’t ya know that I still love ya honey?” over and over again until you are touched with his subtle embrace. It feels like receiving a warm hug while swaying peacefully in the crowd at an intimate show.
Things gradually shift with the ambient whisper of “Tomorrow” and the blue sky jubilance of “Tall”. Both songs are short and sweet but still hold enough emotional weight to keep you tethered closely. It’s the perfect way to round a collection of songs that brush up against the waves of nostalgia while still looking forward. In a short amount of time, he has already managed to carve out a signature sound that can easily dip into new sonic possibilities and can take shape in a wide variety of contexts. The future of S. Raekwon shines brighter than ever.
All songs written, recorded, produced, and mixed by S. RaekwonMastered by Carl Saff
Artwork by Bráulio Amado
