Pentatonix's Kevin Olusola Shares New Tracks From Upcoming Album

Kevin Olusola, the dynamic singer, cellist, and beatboxer best known for his work with the 3x-GRAMMY® Award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, has released two new tracks from his forthcoming album DAWN OF A MISFIT, out on May 9 via Sony Music Masterworks.

The spoken word “I Feel Misunderstood” peeks into Olusola’s inner dialogue as he explores the complex emotions of being caught between who you are and how the world perceives you. “Crazy,” an instrumental reimagining of Gnarls Barkley’s 2006 mega-hit, showcases Olusola’s powerful talents as a cellist, with soaring string arrangements adding emotional depth and breathing new life into the iconic track.

‘‘I Feel Misunderstood / Crazy’ is the heartbeat of my album” shares Olusola. “The interlude sets the stage, revealing my deepest vulnerability: a lifelong struggle with identity, caught between worlds—Black, classical, hip-hop, academic, and creative—yet not fully belonging to any. With the Hans Zimmer-meets-The Weeknd sonic landscape I crafted, ‘Crazy’ is my cry to be seen as I am, weaving cinematic darkness with soul-stirring cello that wails like a voice longing for recognition. This song is for anyone who has ever felt out.”

The multi-faceted artist first previewed his new LP with the electrifying lead single “DARK WINTER," which blends samples from Vivaldi's Four Seasons and symphonic strings with Olusola's potent beatbox percussion, 808s & elastic R&B hooks.

DAWN OF A MISFIT follows two EPs: The Renegade, which explored classical music and celloboxing, and Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, which delved more into pop influences. This new LP seamlessly blends elements from both projects while continuing to expand his already-vast musical canvas. DAWN OF A MISFIT draws on his classical virtuosity and the graceful soulfulness of his vocals, partly fueled by his Nigerian and Grenadian heritage. While recording the new album, he was influenced by a diverse range of artists, including Sting, multi-hyphenate artist Jon Batiste, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, American singer and actor Harry Belafonte, country-rap artist Shaboozey, cellist Jacqueline du Pré, pianist Harvey Lavan "Van" Cliburn Jr., and Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The wide-ranging album touches on spirituality, fatherhood, and being a first-generation person in a Western country, all while fusing classical, pop, R&B, and hip-hop. It even includes a nod to Pentatonix with “Kevin’s Fifth,” a fan-favorite expansion on Beethoven’s 5th that he often performs during their live shows. The beloved quintet—who broke out after winning NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2011—have released 12 albums in total, including 2022’s Grammy-nominated Holidays Around the World. More recently, they starred in the #1 Netflix rom-com Meet Me Next Christmas.

ABOUT KEVIN OLUSOLA

As one-fifth of multi-platinum-selling a cappella phenomenon Pentatonix, the multi-faceted artist, KEVIN OLUSOLA defies stereotypes by reimagining classical musicianship through a modern sonic and lyrical lens, all the while balancing his dynamic background of Nigerian and Grenadian heritage. With his debut solo album, DAWN OF A MISFIT, out May 9th via Sony Music Masterworks, Olusola uses his love of classical music as the backdrop to tell his story as a first-generation person growing up in a Western country. He hopes to unlock entry points for those unfamiliar with the classical genre and reach those in and outside the Black diaspora who may still be finding themselves through life’s hardships. “My purpose is to spread love far and wide with the unique frequency l've been given. I want to shatter boundaries, only to bring all the pieces back together with a newfound harmony,” Olusola says. “I hope my music makes you feel comfortable in who you are and the love you want to portray to the world.”

Photo Credit: Xavier Sotomayer