It’s Officially “CUFFING SEASON"
MUSIC|WAVYMOMENT
Asanté dropped his E.P. Cuffing Season at the end of January in anticipation of the snowy, cuddly sentiment that is Cuffing Season. Unlike most E.P.s where the are songs competing with each other in sound and vibe, Asanté has delivered a project with 7 unique songs that explore every feeling and emotion associated with this time of year.
Between this drop and his last, Asanté has focused on his lyricism and delivery, most evident in the starter track of the E.P. : End of Discussion. He starts the E.P. off with an almost reserved stance, giving the impression that he doesn’t usually settle down and he isn’t someone built for relationships. He goes on to predict that whatever relationship he’s currently engaged in is doomed to fail.
He follows this up with “Nice Guys”, an up-tempo track with the message that nice guys can hit demon time. Most of social media portrays women being hurt by men but not as much the other way around. Asanté speaks on how women take advantage of nice guys and how they go on to be these heartbreakers because of past trauma. He gives all nice guys encouragement to keep their golden hearts and not turn to a life of hurting others.
Asanté then streamlines into “D.T. Therapy” where he steps back and breaks down his inner thoughts. He explores the feeling of finding himself in a situation where he truly cares for someone and talks through the thoughts that come with it. “D.T. Therapy” builds to an emphatic and passionate symphony, including a mesmerizing violin solo.
Fourth on the tracklist is “Watermark” and it definitely left a mark. “Watermark” is Asanté enjoying the perks of being in a relationship. As one of the catchiest songs on the E.P. it doubles as an intimate love making song which further pushes the story of Asante’s “Cuffing Season”.
“Hard 4 Me” is where signs of a falling out start to reveal themselves. Asanté starts expressing the struggles of a work-life balance and the complications that come with that, especially from the lens of an artist. He tries to fix reoccurring issues while dealing with issues he allows to let slide. This piece was beautifully composed and dynamically matured effortlessly.
“Baddies” is the party track of the E.P. catering to side of his audience that love turning up in the club and raging. He perfectly execues the delivery of the song and has anyone who listens to hit bobbing their heads the whole way through. This track features Dominique who added a female dimension to the song and situation in the bigger picture.
“Final Fantasy (That Guy)” is the ending song on the E.P and feels like a culmination of the project on a whole, a true outro. He talks about settling for less and changing himself for someone which would then inevitably be the downfall of the relationship. Unfortunately she couldn’t morph Asanté into whoever she wanted him to be and he would grow out of this image she thought she had of him. She hasn’t moved on but unfortunately Asanté has grown and isn’t looking back at all.
“Cuffing Season” is out now on all platforms!!!
Check out our interview with Asanté down below!
How would you describe the music you typically create nowadays?
The Music I create doesn't stem from any genre. I make music based on my emotion and the feel of a song. I strive to make music that integrates itself with my fans way of life. You want to go on a late-night car ride? I got you. You want to get turnt in the club? I got you. You want to be in your feels? I GOT YOU. My music is all scenario-based. Mood Based. Lyrically, I'm very relatable as I have no problem being vulnerable and authentic in my music. I have no problem being the hero or the villain. It's all about getting my message and assuring my fans that they are not alone. Letting them know that I understand them.
What is your creative process like, especially in your most recent projects?
My creative process for cuffing season didn't involve any beats or lyrics for the first quarter of creation. I changed my whole writing process to deliver a new sound. I wrote stories in my journal, made vision boards, mood boards, storyboards, and wrote a short story before writing a single lyric. My goal was to build the world "Cuffing Season" and understand the story I'm telling, as well as search for motifs and symbols I can add to my song to finalize the vision.
What is the message you want listeners to take away from the track?
Overall, I want my fans to have an amazing listening experience. Cuffing Season is a multitude of vibes with one cohesive story. I don't expect everyone to get it at first, but this project will definitely age well as there is a lot to explore in the world of Cuffing Season.
Any Exclusive information/announcements you got for the vibenextdoor (collabs, giveaways, events, shows)?
KEEP STREAMING CUFFING SEASON. The more you listen the more you like. Follow @asantedeluy on IG to follow my journey and keep up to date with music video drops!
Stream Cuffing Season on Spotify down below:
