Kevin Olusola, a member of the Grammy-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, has released his debut solo album, citing inspiration from a lyric by rapper Jay-Z. The album, titled Dawn of a Misfit, dropped Friday.
Olusola explained in interviews that a specific line from Jay-Z's 2009 track "On to the Next One" influenced his approach to the new project. The lyric suggests that if fans prefer an artist's past work, they should revisit their old albums.
Paraphrasing the lyric, Olusola said, "If you like my old albums, buy my old albums," relating it to his own evolution. He added, "For me, if you like me in Pentatonix then watch me in Pentatonix, but the evolution of me as a man and a father and also understanding my identity, you're going to get the full extent of that."
Olusola said he hopes fans who listen to Dawn of a Misfit will see him as he truly is, even if it differs from his public persona with the group. He acknowledged the album might make some fans feel uncomfortable.
He stated that discomfort is "perfectly okay as long as I'm being truthful to who I am, which is I've known I've always been a misfit."
The album also carries a message for new listeners: it is acceptable to feel like an outsider. "It's okay for you to not feel like you fit in because the things that make you unique...are the exact things you're going to need to change your world," Olusola said.
Dawn of a Misfit features a blend of instrumental covers, pop songs like Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," classical samples from composers such as Vivaldi and Beethoven, and a track dedicated to his daughter. Olusola's cello and beatboxing skills are featured throughout.
Olusola, originally a premed student at Yale University, changed career paths after a video showcasing his cello and beatboxing skills gained attention, leading to his joining Pentatonix in 2011.
He described the album creation process as a "healing journey" that allowed him to address identity issues he experienced throughout his life. "And I feel like this album has done exactly that," Olusola said.
