Grammy Winner Daniel Caesar Signs With Republic Records; Announces Upcoming Album

Canadian-born R&B artist Daniel Caesar has signed with Republic Records after several years of performing as an independent artist.

“I felt like I was becoming a label executive and an artist at the same time. I wanted to keep artistry and business separate with a major label as my partner,” Caesar told Billboard in an exclusive interview.

Before signing with the label, which also manages the careers of superstars Ariana Grande, Drake and Jessie J, Caesar was under the Toronto-based indie label Golden Child Recordings which he co-founded. Previously, the singer said he was not eager to join a major label and said it “would be a bad business decision.”

“As soon as you sign, you give over your ideas, your potential, to somebody else to do how they see fit. You’re no longer the big boss,” he explained.

Born Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds, the 27-year-old musician won a Grammy in 2019 for Best R&B Performance for the hit, “Best Part,” a duet with fellow Grammy winner, H.E.R. He has placed three tracks on the top spot of Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart and most recently, he shared the Billboard No. 1 hit, “Peaches,” with Justin Bieber and Giveon.

“I did as much as I could on my own and I experienced a lot as an independent artist,” he shared. “I wanted to feel the difference of having such a large machine behind me.”

Caesar said he chose Republic Records because he was “struck” by Republic CEO and co-founder Monte Lipman’s leadership and noted the label’s “message and culture geared toward winning,” which can be seen through the successful careers of its other Canadian artists like Drake and The Weeknd.

Caesar also confirmed to Billboard that he was working on his third studio album, a follow-up to his 2019 album, “Case Study 01” which contains the single, “Love Again,” a duet with R&B hitmaker, Brandy.

“Each album, I’ve become more myself, and I’m zeroing in on what I want to say. You’ll hear more introspection, honesty and I’m playing most of the music myself. I’ve never been in the driver’s seat more than I am now,” he told the outlet.

The singer, who is also the executive producer of the upcoming album with Dylan Wiggins, said his third album will focus less on R&B and sound more like folk and country music.