Lucky Daye, R&B poet, levels up

Lucky Daye has steadily climbed the ranks in R&B since his 2019 debut album Painted. Since then he's amassed an impressive list of collaborators and appearances leading to Table for Two, an EP that just won best progressive R&B album at the 2022 Grammys.

The table was properly set for his sophomore album, Candydrip released March 10, which was immediately lauded by his Daye Ones while also assembling a new crop of fans. The sound is more expansive and more experimental, but maintains the essence of what captured our ears from the beginning: a marriage of contemporary and classic R&B.

We celebrated the release Candydrip with a Listening Party on NPR Music's YouTube channel. We listened to the album and talked to the trio responsible for the current Lucky Daye sound — album producer D'Mile, album engineer John Kercy and Lucky himself — about how their friendship kept the music going, Lucky's love for poetry and getting Usher's blessing.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Bobby Carter, NPR Music: Did you all feel any pressure going into Candydrip to top Painted? Because there's definitely similarities, but there are a bunch of differences. What was