QUADECA & BRAKENCE - ‘A LA CARTE’

Writer’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For many, the name Quadeca may bring back memories of the time he dropped a diss track at KSI and that’s about it for the wider public. For those people, I’d highly recommend you tap back into this 23-year old’s catalogue of music, for this is a man who has more than surpassed the commonly disrespected title of ‘YouTube Rapper’.

2021 saw Quadeca (Real name Benjamin Lasky) release ‘From Me to You’, an album that would see him step out of his comfort zone and explore his musical talent, with some brilliant lyricism, storytelling and production. Just one year later, he would blow the minds of music fans everywhere, dropping the ethereal and ghastly masterpiece, ‘I Didn’t Mean to Haunt You’, a concept album exploring the story of a ghost in purgatory experiencing life without them.

Lasky has only came on leaps and bounds in his recent musical ventures and in his new side project ‘SCRAPYARD SERIES’ will see him release ten new tracks across the next few months, with the first release being the midwest-emo and electro-pop inspired ‘A LA CARTE’.

Production has been a real strength of Quadeca’s recent music and this track is no different, with some soothing acoustics introducing us to the main hook of the track, which is seemingly talking about odd relationships and the awkwardness that may come with them.

“My favourite poem was the one I read to you. From the teleprompter on the tongue of my shoe” depicts said awkwardness, describing a lack of eye contact between Quadeca and his love interest, probably due to shyness, anxiousness or just pure infatuation. This is further explored with the line, “Thank God we turned the lights off”, potentially describing relief that eye contact is no longer necessary between the two, now they are all alone with no illumination.

After his verse talking about a “Red eye free” flight, problems with labels trying to tie him down with his next LP and a secondary chorus expanding on Quadeca’s feelings towards this love interest with a poem that “I couldn’t say to you”, the song is handed over to electronic and hyper-pop artist, Brakence, who fits into this sombre and soothing style like a glove.

His instantly recognisable voice and ability to hit falsettos is a style unique to not many other artists in this scene, making for a truly beautiful guest verse from the Ohio based artist.

Similar to Quad, Brakence also had a breakout 2022, with his album, ‘Hypochondriac’, also being widely received to good reviews and his verse instantly calls back to the topics of the album, depicting anxiety and dread with the line, “Why do I feel so unsafe? What am I worried ‘bout?”. The line also serves a topical talking point from the perspective of the song, illustrating the feelings of overthinking in new relationships, thinking that you’re always doing something wrong and one slip up could lead to it all falling apart.

His range of vocal shifting is something that is tough to put into words, with his pitch moving from highs and lows across the whole of his verse, making for a gorgeous and melodic performance, especially with his falsetto ad-libs of, “I don’t really think I’m perfect”, and his harmonies ringing out softly in the background of the final chorus.

Despite both artists being in their early 20’s, they both show incredible maturity in their work and seem to be on a strong, creative path they feel comfortable with, as being able to explore varying genres and styles across their music to such a high level is an incredibly commendable act of artistry.

Quadeca also released the song, ‘U DON’T KNOW ME LIKE THAT’, alongside ‘A LA CARTE’ and I personally can’t wait to see what the upcoming work he will be releasing as time goes on throughout this side project, because this is a damn good start from an artist who is only on the up.