Charlotte Day Wilson Releases ‘Cyan Blue’
Today, the Toronto-born-and-raised singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Charlotte Day Wilson releases her highly-anticipated sophomore album Cyan Blue out May 3rd via Stone Woman Music / XL Recordings. Cyan Blue finds Wilson crafting a smoothly woven cyan tapestry of her eternal influences; thumping gospel piano, warm soul basslines, atmospheric electronics, and penetrating R&B melodies. Yet, it possesses a sense of vastness that rings in a new era for Wilson, one in which she’s embracing collaboration and newfound creative openness tinged with wistfulness, yearning and a reflection on youthful innocence. Featuring tracks like the soul-bearing and poetic “My Way,” transcendent ballads like “Cyan Blue,” the sleek and serene “Canopy,” and the stark and devastatingly beautiful confessional “I Don’t Love You,” Cyan Blue highlights Wilson’s immaculate production skills and resonant vocals through the record’s emotional and cyan-tinted sonic palette.
Working with producers like Leon Thomas (SZA, Ariana Grande, Post Malone), and Jack Rochon (Beyoncé, H.E.R, Daniel Caesar), Cyan Blue demonstrates Wilson’s sonic expertise while also showcasing the next evolution of her time-bending songwriting. Through 13 hypnotizing tracks, she continues to use music as a vessel for unpacking relationships, which in turn allows her to meet and understand herself in life-spanning, panoramic focus. But, on Cyan Blue, she challenged herself to kick her perfectionist tendencies. “Before, I was extremely intentional about creating music with a strong foundation, a bed of artistic integrity,” Wilson reflects. “But that was a bit stifling, like, ‘Let me just make a great piece of art that will stand the test of time, no pressure.’ Now, I think I’m getting out of this frozen state of needing everything to be perfect. I’m more interested in capturing feelings in the moment as they happen and leaving them in that moment.”
While this is only her second album, Wilson’s influence in music has made a major mainstream impact. Wilson broke out in 2016 with her critically acclaimed EP, CDW, followed by 2018’s Stone Woman and made her debut studio album an official coming out moment in 2021 with the critically acclaimed, self-released Alpha. Over the past decade, she’s been sampled by Drake, John Mayer, and James Blake, while Patti Smith has recently praised and covered Wilson’s 2016 breakout single “Work.” Additionally, she’s collaborated with artists like Kaytranada, BADBADNOTGOOD, Snoh Aalegra and SG Lewis, demonstrating that there’s no sound Wilson can’t adapt to and sprinkle her cyan-colored magic over. Wilson’s upcoming 2024 tour kicks off May 15, stopping in cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco and headlining iconic venues like Webster Hall in NYC and the El Rey in Los Angeles. Purchase tickets here: https://charlottedaywilson.com/Tour. Charlotte Day Wilson brought it this album! Also, check out our previous coverage on Charlotte Day Wilson here.