A collaboration so delightfully intense that this won't be the last you hear of it.
-
8
Having recently worked with artists such as Loyle Carner and Kiko Bun, Cadenza has made an incredible name for himself as one of London’s up-and-coming producers – not forgetting his actual name, Oliver Rodigan. His influences stem from his famous father David, who you may know as the iconic radio DJ and reggae legend.
Such prevalent reggae roots are what propelled him to create ‘People,’ which he revealed began as a sample from an old Gladiators record popular within 1970s Jamaica. The track features 19-year-old Jorja Smith, whose pleasantly husky vocals do nothing but add to the initial Jamaican vibe, pairing it with a brooding tale of missed opportunities and despair.
A final collaboration on the track is with Dre Island, a Jamaican-born artist who lends a pretty influential verse to the record, aiming to, in the words of Smith, “Open people’s eyes to the bigger picture.” The track itself begins with her soulful vocals layered amidst a reggae-pop beat before production kicks off to ensure a dangerously upbeat chorus. Make no mistake: through this stellar list of contributors, ‘People’ is a track that will be played in edgy East London bars and Radio 1 breakfast shows for days to come, making it a definite yes for the Spotify playlist.
‘People’ is out now via Columbia Records
