Comprising a total of eight tracks, including an interlude and an outro, “Violets Aren’t Blue” can feel a little brief. But when you are listening to Sezairi’s latest album, you will realise that sometimes, it is better to prioritise quality over quantity.

From the moment it opens with the ‘Dead’, the Singapore Idol 3 champion’s 90s R&B-influenced collaborative track with Filipino rapper Young Cocoa, it is clear that you are in for a treat. Combining mysterious-sounding instrumentals and the mellow vocals of Sezairi — who is such a perfect fit for the song’s concept — ‘Dead’ feels like something that could easily find its way onto the soundtrack of a Bond-esque spy film.

After beginning the “Violets Aren’t Blue” on a high, Sezairi never once lets its quality dip as he explores the theme of love in tracks such as ‘Fool’, ‘Restless Love’, and ‘Blue’, the last one being another collaboration, this time with South Korean vocalist msftz. Also one of the project’s standout tracks, ‘Blue’ is much more upbeat in comparison to ‘Dead’ and it demonstrates Sezairi’s ability to effortlessly switch up his sound to explore a different facet of a particular subject matter.

The 35-year-old has come a very long way since the release of his 2010 debut album Take Two, and with “Violets Aren’t Blue”, he has not only shown his growth but also announced that there is still plenty to come from him. (Brandon Raeburn, Bandwagon Asia)

Stream “Violets Aren’t Blue” LP on Spotify.