Oladapo
IN CASE I NEVER LOVE AGAIN ( ICINLA)
Album · Afro-Pop · 2023
Very few singers anywhere in the world can pull at heartstrings with the intensity that Oladapo does. With his dulcet vocals, breathless and languid enunciation, and hypersensitive songwriting skills, Oladapo (born Tonade Oladapo) has steadily refined his study of the nature of romance and heartbreak to an art form. Starting with 2020’s “Proud”, the singer has confronted subjects like self-worth, growth and vulnerability with a candid sense of awareness and poise, while the 2021 EP BLIND was a five-song reflection on intimacy and romantic affection.
On IN CASE I NEVER LOVE AGAIN (ICINLA), Oladapo is still honest with his work and true to his feelings. ICINLA kicks off at the tail end of BLIND, transforming the jazzy notes of that project’s closing track, “Isakaba”, into the first scene of an extensive consideration of a romance gone sour. Here, across 10 songs, Oladapo ponders the little moments that show love’s transformative powers.
“Perfect Timing” accurately captures the conundrum of a heart in love over twinkling piano keys, while “IF AT ALL” is a wispy-eyed declaration of devotion sung over an alluring blend of log drums, live strings and quaint flutes. Despite being primarily influenced by romance-induced heartbreak, IN CASE I NEVER LOVE AGAIN is not defined by that pain. “Kilode” is a buoyant reminder of Oladapo’s gentlemanly ways, and “Replace Me” is a sure-footed acceptance of a romance’s end.