Given the success of his parents (Will and Jada Pinkett Smith), it’s perhaps not surprising that Jaden Smith radiates ambition. There’s the philanthropy and entrepreneurship, along with the acting – and the 21-year-old’s desire to be different is evident in his music too.
Like Syre, his 2017 debut, Erys (see what he did there?) is a concept record, this time with Erys the lead character in a purgatorial LA. It’s full of epic, sprawling variety and, often, pretension, flitting between hard trap, bluesy post-rock and Auto-Tuned, vaguely conscious rap with psych-tinged beats and tubular bells. At best, it’s dreamily creative; at worst, overwrought.
Impressive guest spots from the likes of Tyler, the Creator and A$AP Rocky, as well as beautiful intermittent vocals from Jaden’s sister Willow, all shine through, highlighting that for all the admirable ideas, we don’t really get a sense of who Jaden is, or even who “Erys” is meant to be.
