D/C

Blending John Legend’s pristine vocal approach with the atmospheric alt-R&B textures associated with Frank Ocean, London’s D/C infused his neo-soul, jazz, and gospel-rooted music with raw blues feeling. Born Daniel Caplen to a mother from St. Vincent who favored Sade and a British father, he developed into a skilled cellist, pianist, and singer/songwriter, earning multiple scholarships that took him to institutions in both the U.K. and the United States. An online following began to form after he posted a cover of SBTRKT’s “Wildfire,” leading to his signing with Atlantic Records UK in 2015. The label issued his first single, “Longing for You,” the next February; the song later appeared on his debut EP, Badman, whose production credits included Hoost alongside Dave Tozer, known for his work with John Legend. That summer brought the follow-up single “Beautiful & Fragile,” which featured London rapper Jay Prince, and the full Badman project reached listeners at the end of July 2016.