He quickly became a fan-favourite and ultimately won the second season of The Voice South Africa and after immersing himself in the album creation process, Craig Lucas has finally dropped his debut album ‘Restless’. The album features the singles ‘I Said This’ and ‘Smother’ and is an impressive debut from the musician.
Craig blends R&B elements into a dark, edgy pop sound which makes ‘Restless’ an interesting listen. Vocally, Craig has given a stellar performance and when blended together with some incredibly well-written songs, magic happens. Craig also gave his own twist to Beyonce’s ‘I Was Here’ and Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ to add a bit of diversity to the project.
The singer reveals that he drew inspiration from being young and tackled the topic in a way many young adults would be able to relate. I tried to draw inspiration from as many real life situations as possible – whether it be love or relationships, or revolving around work/careers or just having a good time. I wanted the music to be as relatable as possible. I was inspired by being young. I was inspired but not having my shit together being okay with that. I’ve always thought of myself as being a little bit of an oddball – I am really shy and pretty awkward, and I wanted to make music for people like me. I wanted to them feel good.”
With a short time-frame to create a strong debut album, Craig poured his heart and soul into every aspect of the record and worked alongside co-writers such as Bubele Booi, Dominic Neill and Jethro Tait and producers Peach van Pletzen, Bubele Booi and David Balshaw, and Ewald Janse Van Rensburg.
Craig understands that, although the past few months have been crazy, the real work starts now. “The album also represents the endless pursuit of your dreams – I may have gotten a record deal and finished an album, but that doesn’t mean I want to rest now, I’m already constantly thinking about what comes next. It also represents me on a personal level: I am deeply introverted. I live in my mind, it does not rest and is a big part of my personality,” he says.
The star also revealed that although rushed, the past few months shed a light on who he wants to become as an artist. “I used to struggle with defining or finding my sound or the kind of music I wanted to perform, but the music I wrote speaks for itself,” he says. “I have definitely found my sound. These are my words, my melodies and my thoughts brought to life.”
The album is an exceptional piece of work and easily one of the best pop records released locally this year. Craig has proved that he can dominate the stage while hone his craft in a way which is relatable and refreshing in the studio as well. ‘Restless’ is an impressive debut which is bound to set him apart from other players in the genre. The emotional lyrics, soulful delivery and stellar production makes this album a must-listen.
Standout tracks: Smother, Hearts Exposed, Broken Diamond, They Don’t Really Care About Us
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