ALPHA (2021) – Charlotte Day Wilson

Stone Woman, 2021

Charlotte Day Wilson approaches the daunting hurdle of a debut studio album with level headedness and a precise idea of what she wants her first major project to be. Though not the most innovative at points for Wilson personally, ALPHA builds upon the Toronto singer-songwriter’s 2016 EP CDW and 2018 EP Stone Woman, and is an apt representation for the larger music world of the unique sound that her fans have been raving about for years.

Right off the bat, the opener “Strangers” kicks off with Wilson’s signature layered and pitched down vocal melodies. She has long used her voice as a production instrument skillfully and continues to do so on ALPHA right from the beginning. The opener is a soft one that eases the listener into the record. This track about unrequited love starts bare and blooms into something more complex to smoothly transition into the much more complicated “I Can Only Whisper”.

Wilson enlists Toronto jazz instrumental outfit BADBADNOTGOOD on “I Can Only Whisper” to make a super groovy and soulful banger. BADBADNOTGOOD’s drums and bassline are so sweet, but just subtle enough to allow the guitars to flourish in the production. This collab makes for the best track off the record and comes early in the record to really reel the listener in.

The singles off the record are quite strong and it’s no surprise why they were chosen as singles. They’re dynamic, extremely intriguing production wise, and well executed vocally. When “Mountains” was released at the end of 2019, I knew there was a quality project in store for Wilson. It’s majestic, it’s painful, it’s soulful, and it’s almost even gospel. The track with the most collaborators on the record, “Mountains” seems like a safe and fool-proof track to preview the record.

In the context of the record, “Mountains”’ theme of a relationship that doesn’t work out is wrapped up by longtime collaborator and fellow Torontonian Daniel Caesar’s nice, if not slightly random, epilogue “Danny’s Interlude”. Caesar’s vocals are class and Wilson’s harmonies are always appreciated, but I wouldn’t exactly miss this interlude if it was taken off the record.

Beyond the unique R&B sound of most of the record, there are a couple points where Wilson takes things in a more folk direction. “Lovesick Utopia” is led by Wilson’s fingerpicked acoustic guitar and has the most acoustic production on the record.

The closer, “Adam Complex”, has elements of folk and gospel that combine for a clean and defining finish to the record. Lyrics of heartbreak and abandonment seem to always pair well with easily strummed acoustic guitar. Wilson’s vocal cadence has a bit of a gospel feeling here which is interesting. The songwriting on “Adam Complex” is vulnerable—maybe the most vulnerable on the record.

ALPHA is a fine piece of work that puts Charlotte Day Wilson’s unique sound and nuanced approach to creating music on display. It’s a record very much about Wilson and who she is. The songwriting exposes her vulnerability and heartbreaks, while the production showcases her skilled musicianship. Along with her fellow Toronto musical cohorts, Charlotte Day Wilson is slowly, but surely rising up in the R&B world.

Favourite tracks: I Can Only Whisper, If I Could, Mountains, Take Care of You, Wish It Was Easy, Adam Complex