Erika de Casier

Erika de Casier specializes in a sensual mix of pop and R&B. The Copenhagen-based singer/songwriter and producer made a soft splash as a solo artist in 2019 with Essentials, a self-released introduction that led to a deal with 4AD. Sensational marked her billowy 2021 debut for the label. The more narrative and organic Still, previewed by the drum'n'bass ballad "Lucky," followed in 2024, by which point she had also co-written songs for other artists, including NewJeans' number one South Korean pop hit "Super Shy." The Portuguese-born de Casier learned piano and sang in a choir in her native Denmark, but her creativity was sparked more by CDs checked out from her library than heartbreak. She got into music production software and in time grew comfortable with her singing voice. In 2017, de Casier made her solo debut with the self-written, self-produced, and self-released "What U Wanna Do?," a ballad reminiscent of late-'90s contemporary R&B. A handful of additional singles preceded the May 2019 arrival of the more expansive and dreamlike Essentials, which garnered acclaim from numerous publications in Denmark and abroad. The following October, 4AD announced its signing of de Casier, who made her synchronous label debut with the Natal Zaks collaboration "No Butterflies, No Nothing." A handful of additional tracks led to the May 2021 release of Sensational, which earned year-end accolades from publications such as The Guardian and Pitchfork. Apart from releasing The Sensational Remixes, de Casier was quiet for a while, though in 2022 and 2023, she co-wrote songs for Danish singer Jada ("s.e.x.y.o.m.g.") and K-pop group NewJeans (including the chart-topping "Super Shy" and Top 20 follow-up "Cool with You"). She returned in January 2024 with the Zaks co-production "Lucky," the lead single from her second album. Still, combining sample-based material and extensive live instrumentation, was released the next month with featured appearances from Blood Orange, Shygirl, and Sensational Remixes contributors They Hate Change. ~ Andy Kellman