‘My Season’ marks the fourth release by Toronto-based artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mark Brathwaite. A classically trained pianist and self-taught guitarist, Mark is a unique artist who uses his music to explore themes of diversity and freedom. With a very distinct style that blends elements of r&b, hip-hop, afrobeat and pop, he resembles an intersectional point between the sounds of artists like Drake and Kanye, which might seem surprising to a lot of people. While I can understand if you find that confusing, ‘My Season’ is an album that answers all questions about the viability of such a sound by delivering 6 wonderful tracks that project his passion, musical knowledge and maturity.
Looking back on his work, it is clear that Mark values placing significance on releasing meaningful records. His album ‘Phoenix’ focused on his transformation and rebirth as an artist, highlighting his hustle and growth. While ‘My Season’ is a sonic departure from his previous works, it still retains the importance of being centered around communicating the thoughts inside his mind. According to Mark, the summary of the album is the trials, the challenges and the triumphs he has gone through. He conveys these by focusing on the setbacks and broken relationships he has had to endure, but understanding that he must channel the greatness within to reach greater heights. His confidence is reflected in his strong lyricism on the chorus of the opening track ‘Champion Flow’ where he raps “Every time I come around I shut it down/ People know I got the crown it’s the champion flow.” The self-belief is strong throughout the album, pointing towards an artist who recognizes his potential and has the ambition to match it.
Opening for Machine Gun Kelly and producing for French Montana are some of his previous achievements, which indicate that Mark is an artist who realizes that the only way to go is up. He comes across as an avant-garde producer who is capable of delivering accessible tracks. ‘Street Fighter’ shows his creativity with pop culture references, his trademark bilingual style of combining English and French on tracks like ‘Continue Ma Route’ shows his appreciation for his roots, and the EP as a whole provides a window into his life. It’s a fascinating collection of songs, and definitely stands out as a project that can capture your interest and hold your attention.