Danny Godwin - “Naturelle”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 3

Pairs Well With…Toro Y Moi, Sampha, Gallant

Danny Godwin embraces a cool, understated space on his chillwave R&B debut EP1, leaning on lush production and hazy soundscapes for his grooving, tripped out sound. Godwin embraces sugary 90s melodies (“Naturelle”), lonely bedroom pop songwriting (“Halfway”), and even dreamy trip hop (“I Know”) across the impressive introduction, displaying patience instead of overloading his music with layer after synth layer. It yields a surprisingly earnest presentation in a normally psychedelic pop leaning genre - see space ballad “Side” for Godwin simultaneously at his rawest and poppiest. (Kevin McStravick)