Elujay – A Constant Charade (Ochre Vinyl)

With A Constant Charade, Oakland artist and producer Elujay removes the mask from his multifaceted, genre-crossing craft. “One of the most talented singer-songwriters in the Bay Area” (Hypebeast) makes his solo debut on the art-forward indie label drink sum wtr with a risk-embracing LP that follows nearly a decade of distinct work in the contemporary pop landscape. He sees his style as a fusion of unexpected flairs: R&B stirred up with rhythms drawn from yacht rock, sophisti-pop, dancehall, Al Jeel, Lovers Rock, and the tones of his Trinidadian roots. He pushes the sound outward in various directions on A Constant Charade, a dynamic collection marked by vulnerability and ambition. Themes touch on social cues, behavioral loops, and the ways we perform for others, “just noticing how I feel when I’m around people,” he says. Whether I’m code switching or acting differently_we all do it, it’s a charade.” With his signature croon and strongest arrangements to date, joined by a cast of collaborators and co-producers, Elujay cuts through the games to get real.