D-Terence’s latest album, “CATHARSIS,” is not only his freshest work but also, according to the title at least, a new start. It’s the sort of project that grows out of real emotions, instead of business plans. The Frankfurt artist turns vulnerability into a full-blown sensory experience, splashing Afrobeat, R&B, and rap across warm, movie-like sounds. The album has the lightness of new purpose, the darkness of bitter truth, and the warmth of reflection. It’s as if the album is a metaphorical open window into this life-changing time in his, and it eschews surface-level perfection to guide you through with honesty and is rooted deeply within an Afro-fusion soundscape that lets you feel and not only hear the story.
“Scars” establishes the primal, contemplative spirit. Most of the music is amniotic Afro-fusion, translucent percussion, pulsing chords, and a steady beat that’s like something you breathe in after years of chaos. D-Terence’s voice is tender, confessional, and delicate, while also allowing some of the ache from those old wounds to seep through. This opening isn’t attempting to wow me, but rather it’s inviting me in with the truthful. Healing begins with acceptance, and that is where the album starts: from acceptance. It’s open but certain, setting the mood for the rest of “CATHARSIS.”
That candor carries through just as well into “Yayato,” which shifts the tone but doesn’t spoil the story. “Scars” can really make you meditate, and “Yayato” feels like a party breaking through the clouds. It’s bright and has a good beat, making you feel proud of your culture. The Afrobeat hands show a little more here, infusing energy and motion. D-Terence strikes a pleasing balance between groove and message, allowing the song to break through with joy while not feeling out of place in the album’s emotional arc. It’s a reminder to me that healing is not always silent; sometimes the way I get back on track is by leaping into the fray.
“Good Life” expounds on that with a sweeter feeling of gratitude that feels sincere rather than romanticized. The production’s a blend of gentle rap and Afro-R&B, so what you receive is a song that feels giddy and pensive simultaneously. D-Terence sings about it as though someone is finally recognizing the tiny victories: making a choice to be there, choosing to breathe, and choosing something in life worth celebrating. The shift from “Yayato” to this seems intentional: joy to gratitude, movement to grounding. The album finds its home there, that place of emotional maturity.
The next is “Moments Like This,” one of the album’s most soulful and atmospheric peaks. The warm chords, soft textures, and easy rhythmic undulation help make the song feel like it’s floating right into the golden hour. D-Terence plays up his R&B side here, and he has a talking-like quality to his singing at several points. It’s a subtle yet powerful reminder that peace does not always arrive in big, dramatic ways. It can emerge in the small moments that occur every day. It feels as grateful as “Good Life,” yet it’s more intimate and inward-looking.
By the end of “CATHARSIS,” it’s apparent that D-Terence has made more than just a number of songs. D-Terence has meticulously documented both his positive and negative experiences. He demonstrates to us what it feels like to come apart and how to put oneself back together, across 16 tracks in 40 minutes. The beat of Afrobeat, the heart of R&B, and the honesty of rap all intersect on this album. It's a really intimate piece of art, and it stays with you. It’s honest and raw, the kind of storytelling that exposes your soul and stays with you long after the last note has faded.
I listened to this Album from the first songs to the last chronologically, and I can assure you that it was a pure delight, a moment of escape, a story in which I was able to find myself and also heal, it was really full of emotions. The album is so pure, the lyrics, the beat, the melodies that we don't forget. D-Terence really made me find myself in his texts. I highly recommend this album.
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