If there’s one thing about Dave, he’s a king when it comes to creating parallels within his own musical universe.
The long awaited arrival of his sophomore album We’re All Alone In This Together accounts for this, as the resemblances he’s created don’t necessarily lie in the continuation of songs he’s previously released, because they can present through structural similarities and emotion they evoke from listeners.
Pairings from WAAITT and Psychodrama standing at a cross roads that are comparable in a versus include:
We’re All Alone and Psycho
Think of the feeling experienced from listening to both intro’s back to back. When WAAITT dropped, did your mind take a hit of nostalgia, and associate it with Psycho? Can you pick up on the truthful elements which turn the artist’s reality into your own? With these two, everything comes down to how heightened our senses become as the storyteller unleashes his candour.
Verdansk and Screwface Capital
Both are dominated by a piano in their intros, honing in an intense cinematic feeling. The visuals for Verdansk account for this, from the concept, down to the style of execution. Despite its notorious rival, Screwface Capital not having a music video, eliminating this one factor still places the pair on par in what could be classed as Dave’s version of luxury rap – with a crud-esque touch. The verse arrangement, build up in production all the way through to the core beat transition are in alignment; presenting a parallel by structure.
Heart Attack and Panic Attack
Dedicated to the Six Path‘s era – which looking back at David’s journey, this was the beginning – Heart Attack’s steady heartbeat, chaotic sirens, news voiceovers and sombre acoustics deviate away from the 140bpm, Grime heavy elements that were laced into the prequel; creating a state of hyperrealism. The fabrication of this effect is intentional; aiding listeners to understand that even though time has passed between Panic Attack, and it’s accentuated continuation, the themes touched on in both – crime, justice, social exclusion – are still prevalent problems of today.
The arrival of My 24th Birthday, successor to My 19th Birthday joins this ensemble; demonstrating that any genius mirroring isn’t purely limited to the above.
My 19th Birthday is by far one of Santan’s most lyrically powered tracks; a top contender from his Game Over chapter. A true embodiment of every element that comes with pain rap when delivered by him. Fast forward five years, My 24th Birthday shines light upon the Streatham prince’s growth, creating major contrast from the anguish detailed in its predecessor; the growing pains of becoming an artist, alongside the struggles of rising to become who Dave might now refer to, as Him.
There’s a desolate essence to the tone of delivery. Arm in arm with the unpredictable melody (possibly lifted from his own vocals as hinted by the Instagram post paying tribute to the release), the story graces our ears, giving us a moment to reminisce with the rapper, about times prior to this, that had far less favourable circumstances. Despite the fame, opulence and success that can accompany a 24-year old poet, he doesn’t hold back on centring what he spits about, around honesty – detailing how regardless of his present, there are moments in this current reality where he lacks complete fulfilment.
Those who are new to his music will find their love for him continuing to grow, whilst those from the Blackbox days will commend him for upholding his artistic integrity. Through the mirror dimensions David creates, honesty propels him forward. Besides proving to us that he is a king when it comes to creating parallels in his music, he also doesn’t fail to remind us that he is in fact, the truth.
KING A WRITINGS 