Odeal – The Summer That Saved Me

Review

"The Summer That Saved Me" finds Odeal crafting his most adventurous sonic palette yet, weaving together Afrobeat rhythms, silky R&B grooves, and those infectious Afro-Latin touches that'll have you moving before you even realize it. This whole project feels like freedom distilled into music – you can practically taste the wanderlust and emotional breakthrough that came with his British passport adventures around the globe. From the Amapiano-flavored bounce of "London Summers" to the intimate vulnerability of "Obi's Interlude," Odeal's showing us he's not afraid to get deep while keeping those hips swaying.

The album's compact seven to eight tracks pack serious emotional punch, especially standouts like "Miami" featuring Leon Thomas and the contemplative closer "In the Chair." What hits different here is how Odeal balances those beach-day vibes with genuine introspection about connection and opening up emotionally – it's like he's soundtracking both your summer playlist and your personal growth journey. Since linking with LVRN and snagging those MOBO wins, this cat's really found his voice, and "The Summer That Saved Me" proves he's ready to push boundaries while keeping that raw, liberated energy that makes you want to roll the windows down and just drive. - Tatiana