‘Please Have a Seat’ is filled with unexpected turns

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Cover Art via Secretly Canadian

Please Have a Seat, the fifth studio album from Nnmadi, was released in October 2022.

Kalonga Mwenda, Staff Writer

American multi-instrumentalist Nnamdï has delivered an impressive album with Please Have a Seat.

Nnamdï has made a name for himself as an experimental artist, often taking inspiration from indie rock, electronica, and hip-hop, along with hyperpop and Chicago juke, which can be heard sparingly in this new LP. Even while exploring these new sounds on each project, he remains true to his sound– outdoing himself with each release.

This album is filled with unexpected turns like on “Anxious Eater,” which may be the best track. So much happens within its four-minute duration – the beat switch, sudden tempo shifts, and a math rock interlude – that it keeps listeners on their toes for what’s next, then ends with a minute-long instrumental break.

Much of the tracklist’s momentum is lost towards the end in terms of creativity, but the music is still decent. The lead single, “I Don’t Wanna Be Famous”, is the most dull song. It is a generic pop track with few redeeming qualities, one of which being the brief second verse. All in all, it feels like nothing more than a disingenuous attempt at a relatable song.

Apart from the album’s low points, “Grounded” is another great song. The way Nnamdï structures the music on this project and uses vocoder on songs like “Some Days” is what makes it such an interesting listening experience. “Grounded” begins with strings and is followed by a grungy guitar riff and monotone vocals, which manage to work together.

Those who enjoy the often peculiar and upbeat sounds of Brockhampton will love this album.