Life 1

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Life 1
Studio album by
Quadeca
ReleasedOctober 1, 2026
Length48:22
LabelX8
ProducerQuadeca
Quadeca chronology
Vanisher, Horizon Scraper
(2025)		 Life 1
(2026)
Singles from Life 1
  1. "Dark Magic"
    Released: May 27, 2026
  2. "Baby Steps"
    Released: June 23, 2026
  3. "Hell of a Time"
    Released: July 22, 2026
  4. "Life 1 (Where Did the Time Go)"
    Released: September 21, 2026

Life 1 is the fifth studio album by the American musician Quadeca, released on October 1, 2026, via his own record label, X8 Music. It serves as the follow-up to Vanisher, Horizon Scraper (2025). In promotion of Life 1, Quadeca released four singles – "Dark Magic", "Baby Steps", "Hell of a Time," "Life 1 (Where Did the Time Go)" – and announced a North American tour, which is set to take place in October and November 2026. The album features an appearance from Canadian musician Kmoe.

Background

On July 25, 2025, Quadeca released his studio album Vanisher, Horizon Scraper to critical acclaim,[1][2][3][4] and served as his first released through his own label, X8 Music, after leaving DeadAir Records.[5] A concept album based on a sailor who goes on a voyage,[1] a film that serves as a visual compliment to the album was also released.[6][7] Quadeca went on a North American tour in support of the album in October and November.[8]

On March 18, 2026, Quadeca posted on his Instagram page with the caption "new album i think i will call it life1." This post has since been deleted. Shortly after, Quadeca toured in Australia, with merch pertaining to Life 1 being sold. On May 16, Quadeca debuted "Like You Always Do" live at the Kilby Block Party, because he wrote the song in Pine Valley, Utah.

Music and lyrics

Tracks

The opening track, "Life 1 (Where Did the Time Go)", combines elements of jazz, synths, and "flamenco-style" guitar,[9] with vocal harmonies similar to a Justin Timberlake track.[10] The second track, "Dark Magic" begins with "distorted breathing and abrasive guitar drones" before evolving into the use of "warm" electric piano chords, built around "tonal whiplash and absurdist tension."[11] The tenth track, "Baby Steps" is a fusion of hip-hop, indie rock, and folk music,[12] with Quadeca singing on an acoustic track.[13] The eleventh track, "Hell of a time," is primarily a dance track, centering around the use of artificial sounding drum presets, and ending with an orchestral swell.[14]

Promotion and release

On May 27, 2026, Quadeca released the album's lead single "Dark Magic"[15] with an accompanied music video, with direction and editing from Quadeca and Brendon Burton.[16] The music video first uses "surreal humour and unsettling imagery" before transforming into a "strange rural road movie, with Quadeca travelling through South Carolina in a wooden house mounted to a pickup truck."[11] On June 23, he released its second single "Baby Steps"[17] with an accompanied music video.[12]

On July 22, Quadeca released the album's third single "Hell of a Time" with an accompanied music video.[18] The same day of its release, he announced a North American tour of the album.[18] On July 25 and August 1, Quadeca performed at the Fuji Rock and Lollapalooza festivals, respectively.[18] The 22-date[19] North American tour in support of Life 1 is set to begin on October 10, in Mesa and conclude on November 10, in Los Angeles.[20]

On September 21, Quadeca released the album's fourth single "Life 1 (Where Did the Time Go)"[19] with an accompanied music video on Youtube.[9] The end of the music video revealed the album's release date as October 1, 2026, which was further confirmed through social media.[21] It was released by X8 Music.[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Quadeca, except "Celery" (written with Fahem Erfan).[22]

Life 1 track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Life 1 (Where Did the Time Go)"3:07
2."Dark Magic"2:55
3."The Hero Never Dies"3:20
4."It Goes Like This"3:41
5."Celery"0:37
6."Make You My What" (with Kmoe)2:48
7."Regular Guy"4:12
8."The Gambler"1:31
9."Like You Always Do"4:23
10."Baby Steps"3:58
11."Hell of a Time"3:43
12."Illusion of Choice"5:33
13."Good Grief"4:09
14."In Another Life..."4:25
Total length:48:22

Note

  • All track titles are stylized in sentence case, with the exception of "Celery" and "The Gambler", which are stylized in all caps. Tracks 2 and 10 were originally released in title case.[23]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from Tidal.[22]

  • Quadeca – production, mixing, mastering (all tracks); vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6–14), piano (1, 3, 7, 12), percussion (1, 4, 7–10, 12, 13), synthesizer (1, 10, 13), programming (1), electric piano (2, 9), drums (2), guitar (2, 4, 7–9, 12, 13), keyboards (4, 13)
  • Johnny Hall – keyboards (1), piano (2)
  • Fahem Erfan – guitar (1, 4, 6, 7, 9), vocals (5), bass (10, 13)
  • Myles Martin – drums (1, 8–10, 13)
  • Johan Lenox – piano (3, 14)
  • Caleb Buchanan – bass (6), upright bass (9, 12)
  • Kmoe – production, vocals (6)
  • Oleka – vocals (9)
  • Noah Ehler – cello (12), production (14)

References

  1. Leake, Desmond (August 4, 2025). "Quadeca's Vanisher, Horizon Scraper Is a Turbulent, Uneven Epic". Paste. Archived from the original on August 4, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. Press-Reynolds, Kieran (August 13, 2025). "Quadeca: Vanisher, Horizon Scraper". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 13, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  3. Saxena, Arman (August 26, 2025). "Review: Quadeca rises from the sea fully-formed on Vanisher, Horizon Scraper". The Rice Thresher. Archived from the original on September 7, 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
  4. Zivkovic, Ljubinko (September 12, 2025). "Spill Album Review: Quadeca – Vanisher, Horizon Scraper". Spill. Archived from the original on October 9, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  5. Almanza, Juan P. (October 30, 2025). "'It's All or Nothing With This Art,' A Conversation With Quadeca". The Hoya. Archived from the original on October 30, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  6. "REVIEW: Quadeca feels sublime with Vanisher, Horizon Scraper film". The Needle Drop. July 24, 2025. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  7. Quadeca (July 24, 2025). Quadeca - Vanisher, Horizon Scraper (Full Album Movie). Archived from the original on February 27, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via YouTube.
  8. "QUADECA on X: Vanisher, Horizon Scraper Tour. Fall 2025". X. April 22, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. Sandiford, Kayla (September 22, 2026). "Quadeca announces new album, Life 1". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 23, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. Ragusa, Paolo (September 25, 2026). "Best Songs of the Week September 19th-25th: Staff Picks". Consequence. Retrieved September 27, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. "Quadeca Leans Into Surrealism on New Single 'Dark Magic'". Fault Magazine. May 28, 2025. Archived from the original on August 10, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  12. Cole, Alexander (June 24, 2026). "'Baby Steps' - Song by Quadeca". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on August 10, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  13. Murray, Robin (June 24, 2026). "Quadeca's 'Baby Steps' Represents A Confident Step Forwards". Clash. Archived from the original on August 10, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  14. Quadeca - Hell of a time, retrieved September 21, 2026
  15. Quadeca - Dark Magic, Tidal, May 27, 2026, archived from the original on August 11, 2026, retrieved August 11, 2026
  16. Murray, Robin (May 28, 2026). "Quadeca Drops New Single 'Dark Magic'". Clash. Archived from the original on August 10, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  17. Quadeca - Baby Steps, Tidal, June 23, 2026, archived from the original on August 11, 2026, retrieved August 11, 2026
  18. Ragusa, Paolo (July 22, 2026). "Quadeca Announces 2026 North American Tour, Shares 'Hell of a Time'". Consequence. Archived from the original on July 30, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  19. Murray, Robin (September 22, 2026). "Quadeca Announces New Album 'Life 1'". Clash. Retrieved September 23, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. Lapierre, Megan (July 22, 2026). "Quadeca Plots North American Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 10, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. Lasky, Benjamin [@Quadeca] (September 21, 2026). "LIFE 1 INTRO (WHERE DID THE TIME GO) ALBUM 10/01" (Tweet). Retrieved September 21, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  22. "Life 1 / Quadeca / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  23. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved September 28, 2026.