“Forgetting’s a gift, thank you, God,” sings Ashton Simmonds, otherwise known as Daniel Caesar, in the closing track of his new album, alluding to the album’s focus on Caesar’s connection to God and his rough past with his father.
Daniel Caesar released his fourth album, “Son of Spergy,” on Oct. 24 after putting out three consecutive singles — “Call On Me,” “Have A Baby (With Me)” and “Moon.” In the album, Caesar explores his relationship with his father and his journey to becoming an adult.
“Son of Spergy” centers heavily around Caesar’s belief in Christianity. In a sneak peek Instagram post, Caesar references the biblical phrase: “Walk by faith, not by sight.” The message of letting God lead the way echoes in the song “Touching God,” affirming that “there’s a plan you won’t understand for now.” Caesar’s religion closely intertwines with familial themes as his father was a pastor and gospel singer.
Caesar shares his conflicted feelings about his father and the album’s namesake, Norwill “Spergy” Simmonds, in “Rain Down” and the final track “Sins Of The Father.” He recalls their clashes and tumbles during Caesar’s youth that led him to leave home at 17, but eventually lets these painful experiences dissolve in order for forgiveness to emerge, according to the Harvard Crimson newspaper.
The album, consisting of 12 songs, highlights Caesar’s ethos of quality over quantity. His warm instrumentals lay down a graceful foundation for each song. Specifically, Caesar’s strong emphasis on the guitar, both acoustic and electric, create catchy beats, which are most evident in “Call On Me” and “Root of all Evil.”
Palo Alto High School junior Samarth Karnam said he enjoys the album’s smooth tone.
“It’s a very peaceful album,” Karnam said. “It was perfect study music. I was studying at the time, and I was really able to lock in and be immersed in my work.”
Before the release, Caesar embarked on a discreet pop-up tour across North America, surprising fans with free mini concerts in public parks to promote the upcoming album and connect with fans outside in nature. Announcing concert locations on social media barely an hour prior, Caesar said on his Instagram that he wanted to keep crowd sizes down.
No official tour for “Son of Spergy” has been announced, but for now, fans can bask in Caesar’s music through most online streaming platforms.
Rain Down (Feat. Sampha)
Caesar, along with British singer Sampha, opens the album with “Rain Down,” transcending simple chords into a rhythmic and soulful hymn. The track absorbs heavy gospel influence through elements like a church chorus and organ-led instrumentals that blend beautifully with Sampha’s falsetto.
Call On Me
Caesar steps outside his characteristic smooth feel in “Call On Me,” experimenting with the electric guitar to introduce a rougher sound, reminiscent of alternative rock, to his discography. The lyrics describe the intense experience of loving someone unconditionally, even when that effort is not reciprocated. As the second pre-release single, the track’s unconventional feel sets the expectation for the rest of the album to take on new styles of music. While critics have long categorized Caesar as an R&B artist, “Call On Me” demonstrates the wide scope of his work.
Root of all Evil
Warm, velvety instrumentals paired with Caesar’s gentle vocals on “Root of all Evil” sculpted a heavenly melody resembling the feeling of a bright sunlit morning. However, the angelic sound delivers a contrasting message in self-examination. Caesar contemplates the universal struggle of resisting human temptations, confessing that he is “too drawn to the evil.”
Touching God (Feat. Yebba & Blood Orange)
“Touching God” brings forth a deep message through mellow yet ethereal vocals. Caesar describes leaning on faith in God through grief and hardship by holding ultimate trust in God’s guidance.
No More Loving (On Women I Don’t Love) (Feat. 646y4t)
Following several entrancing tracks, “No More Loving (On Women I Don’t Love)” is unquestionably the album’s weakest song, as well as the least streamed on Spotify as of Nov. 2025. Recycling a melody that did not showcase distinctive instrumentals or vocals, “No More Loving” lacks climaxes or variation in sound, making the listening experience monotonous.
Sins Of The Father (Feat. Bon Iver)
The nearly eight-minute final track, “Sins Of The Father,” is packed with symbols reflecting on Caesar’s conflict between the right and wrong that his father had done while raising him, including his father’s alcohol addiction. Caesar sings, “I’ve got all this hate in my heart. … Tried to leave it behind, but I couldn’t / I need alchemical transmutation.” Alchemical transmutation is the chemical process of turning basic metals into more valuable substances. Caesar implicitly refers to the profound change of a human within the heart, following his ongoing transformation into someone greater and his growth from resentment to reconciliation toward his father.
Our verdict
The deeply personal experiences entangled in religion and family behind each song made “Son of Spergy” Caesar’s most introspective and intimate album so far. Behind his soulful vocals lies a strong emphasis on raw instrumentals, giving the project a warm, stripped-down feel. Unfortunately, the tracks often leaned on simpler, safer song structures — an area where more experimental outros and overall flow could have felt fresher. That said, Caesar played with new genres like gospel, folk and alternative rock that truly set this album apart in terms of sound. Within his discography, we rank “Son of Spergy” behind “Freudian” and “Never Enough,” but ahead of “Case Study 01” at a respectable third place.