Nick Hakim – I Can See
Nick Hakim has developed over the past few years into one of the most distinctive voices within modern alternative soul. The musician born in Washington D.C. is known for his warm, sometimes dreamy productions in which influences from soul, jazz, psychedelia and indie come together. Since his breakthrough with “Green Twins” from 2017, Hakim has built his own sound in which vulnerability and experimentation go hand in hand. With “I Can See”, he returns with an album that once again revolves around emotion, atmosphere and the power of minimal arrangements.
Where many contemporary R&B productions are focused on direct impact, Hakim chooses a more patient approach. “I Can See” develops slowly and gives the listener space to discover the different layers in the music. His voice remains the most important instrument, but is surrounded by warm guitars, subtle keyboards and productions that often have an almost cinematic character.
The opening track “I Don’t Know” immediately sets the tone for the album. Hakim sings with his characteristic fragile voice, with every sentence almost sounding as if it emerges on the spot. The production remains restrained and mainly lets the emotional weight of the song speak. It is an approach that returns throughout the entire album.
“Conversations” belongs to the most successful songs on the record. Here, the different sides of Hakim’s music come together: the soulful vocals, the experimental production and the melancholic atmosphere. The song shows why he is often seen as an artist who reinterprets traditional soul without losing sight of its foundation.
“I Can See” also demonstrates the power of simplicity. The title track does not work with large musical gestures, but rather with small shifts in rhythm and melody. Hakim trusts that a subtle performance can be enough to leave an emotional impression.
The influence of jazz is clearly audible at various moments. Not through complex structures or virtuoso passages, but through the freedom with which musical ideas are treated. Songs sometimes feel as if they are breathing, with room for improvisation and unexpected details.
However, not every listener will be immediately convinced by this approach. “I Can See” is not an album that easily allows itself to be summarised in a few striking singles. Some songs move slowly and require patience. Those looking for an energetic R&B record with clear choruses may experience the restrained style as distant.
That is precisely where Nick Hakim’s strength lies. He makes music that is not about speed, but about feeling and atmosphere. “I Can See” is an album that grows with multiple listens and reveals more and more details.
With “I Can See”, Nick Hakim confirms his position as one of the most interesting voices within contemporary soul. The album is warm, personal and musically carefully constructed. He once again chooses his own route and shows that sometimes less can truly be more. (8/10) (A-Wax)
