Houston-raised, Casey Luong most known as “Keshi,” is out with his sophomore album, “Requiem.”

With a total of 14 tracks, “Requiem” introduces the first single titled “Amen.”

The song is the very essence of ambition and the emotional turmoil that seems to hold a vice-grip on Keshi’s success and self-worth.

It grips the listener with the same tension of anticipation and desire.

“Amen” puts into perspective the burdens of society that weigh on young people. Lyrics like, “I was doing better ‘til I wanted more” and “I don’t pray to God.

That’s a weakness” are the strong, sure-footed cries of a person who rejects the societal/religious structure of the world to thrive in their own lane.

Keshi’s vocals are layered within what sounds like a choir of angels harmonizing with a lone piano, perhaps symbolic of the inner self-strength in lifts him up.

It’s a beautiful aural image, short and sweet.

The track serves as a strong opener to the rest of the album.

The album’s main single “Say” highlights the unspoken desire for someone.

This romantic yearning is a repetition delivered in hope that words of love could be spoken back.

The song is in the style of city pop which differs from Keshi’s previous work.

In a Spotify listening party, Keshi mentioned that “Say” was a new experimental sound he was preparing for the album.

Since the single’s release it has racked up a total of 26 million successful streams.

“Soft Spot,” the fourth track of the collection, defines the struggle between self-protection and vulnerability in the face of love.

It’s the fear of being intimate and stepping out of one’s own bubble to endure the possibility of rejection, all for the sake of being captivated in the moment with the person before them.

“Soft Spot” has captured the attention of many listeners.

Fans started a trend where they share the song lyrics with a video showing their lover, being their “Soft Spot.”

The last track on the album is “Id,” which starts as a lonely falsetto against an electronic backdrop.

It leads into a driving rhythm that showcases the evolution of Keshi’s production choices.

What sounds like an aching, desperate ballad evolves into a combustion of electronic synths until it drives home with a hip-hop beat that burns with a fierce delivery.

The album’s overarching themes of vulnerability and inner turmoil are unlike anything he’s put out before