On March 20, the music video (and premiere date) for Ex-Girlfriend by Erika de Casier appeared on my YouTube homepage. YT generally reserves that real estate for mid to long form content with music rarely making an appearance. A missed opportunity, really, as I find tremendous joy in music videos. A lost art, maybe? But Erika de Casier got through the algorithm to make herself seen.
Born in Portugal and raised in Denmark to a Belgian mother and Cape Verdean father, de Casier’s rise to fame is the internets best kept secret. Still is her third LP and second release with London record label 4AD. De Casier writes and produces her own music influenced by 90’s / 00’s R&B. Her futuristic R&B style reminds me of icons such as INOJ, Aaliyah, TLC (Fanmail specifically) and Janet Jackson. She stands out with alt R&B contemporaries like ABRA, Frank Ocean, Kelela and Solange.
After obsessively watching and listening to her music and sleuthing the limited profiles of her online in less than a week, it was serendipitous that she would was also be going on tour. By the seventh day, I became fluent in de Casier’s music and felt confident I could do a bop to her music live — I decided to purchase a ticket. I went solo. Shout out to Cher for adopting me to her friend group at the concert.
(It’s always nice attending a concert at s small venue. I generally refuse to attend concerts in large venues just to pay ridiculous prices just to stare at a screen.)
I was nervous about de Casier’s soft and subdued vocals, but they were clear, projected and not drowned by the audience. Do not sleep on Erika de Casier. Saying Erika de Casier again for SEO purposes.
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