Grade: B+
Known for bittersweet lyrics and lofi beats, keshi is back with Requiem, his first full-length release in two years. On his new project, the hip hop and R&B artist behind hauntingly beautiful tracks like “LIMBO” and “like i need u” showcases angelic melodies filled with raw emotion detailing love and lust.
Requiem’s first track, “Amen,” is a roller coaster of sweet rhythms and belts that gracefully transition into “Say,” a successful single that’s already accumulated over 22 million streams.
“Say” starts off with a retro EDM beat, but keshi’s voice progresses the song from an upbeat head-nodding hit to a body-swaying track that is perfect for singing in the shower. The track revisits the ambient, lofi tunes of keshi’s past releases.
keshi’s tendency to contrast hard beats with his soprano notes shines through on “Night,” which begins with a suspenseful and thunderous sound straight out of a horror movie. His voice is faultless in the chorus, capturing a mix of perfect belts and high pitches.
Simple, soft guitar strings and a chill drum rhythm open “Soft Spot” sounding like a peaceful spring. Then, keshi delves into lyrics about his determination to keep his partner when singing, “I hate to dance, but I’ll dance with you.”
“Like That,” which falls in the middle of the album, is ultimately a filler song with repetitive melodies and uninventive lyrics. However, the song features a catchy chorus as keshi sings, “Do you like that / Uh-oh, uh-oh.”
“Texas” depicts keshi’s longing to return home from New York with a country-style guitar. keshi’s lyrics focus on his experiences in Texas, referring to the smell of gasoline from train tracks and his hometown, Evergreen. Though the shift in keshi’s typical exploration of love within his music to his hometown may seem unenjoyable to his audience, it simultaneously builds depth to his discography as he incorporates different concepts in his music.
Featuring a soft piano melody, “Dream” recalls a first love experience. The slow song describes feelings of regret and longing in a relationship with lyrics like, “But I have nightmares, it should’ve been you,” and “She’s a dream come true.”
Through the starting line of “War”—“Hold on you’re letting go / I don’t want to lose you baby”—keshi continues to juxtapose a sweet, slow-burn sound with depressing lyrics.“I can barely hear your heartbeat,” he sings, illustrating how unreciprocated love feels like war.
On the title track, “Requiem,” keshi begins with flawless harmonization and heartful lyrics depicting desperation and loss. Unlike his other songs, “Requiem” focuses more on keshi’s vocals. The instrumentals play quietly in the background,making the track sound more personal to the audience.
“Just To Die” opens with a slow guitar strum before stabbing the hearts of the audience with keshi’s passionate voice singing, “So you do what you can / When you’re born into life just to die.” On a more upbeat note, “Bodies” features a catchy percussion rhythm and heartfelt lyrics like “Everybody wants somebody, needs nobody, anybody.”
On “Id,” keshi questions “Will the life I made be the price I pay?” over an EDM beat. Closing the album with philosophical lyrics, keshi revisits the line “But I want more” from opener “Amen” to make for a smooth and satisfying finish.
“Requiem” itself is an album filled with vulnerable, touching, and tender lyricism. Paired with lively instrumentals, the project puts forth themes of love, lust, and loss, making for a good late-night driving playlist.
