By now it’s clear that Calvin Harris is in the midst of a complete about-face, transitioning from the mechanical dance-pop songs and grooveless tropical house tunes that made him a name into breezier, sun-soaked serenades. His upcoming album is literally calledFunk Wav Bounces Vol. 1. What’s still surprising is how effortless it seems. He’s producing full-on swing jams like it’s second nature. Harris has proven to be a more than capable manager, bringing a reluctant Frank Ocean back to pop on “Slide” and bottling the whimsy of Young Thug on “Heatstroke.” That there’s even space for Migos, Pharrell, and Ariana Grande to fit into these songs is a marvel. Not only is Calvin Harris making pop funky again; he’s surpassing DJ Khaled as a pop-rap maestro.
The latest installment in this saga, “Rollin,” a cruise-controlled ride through a drug-induced stupor, unites seemingly unlikely traveling companions Future and Khalid. One is a self-obsessed rap crooner whose auto-tuned croaks bear his deepest emotions, the other a confessional teenager with a rich, sonorous tone. Yet, they don’t just coexist, they mesh, ceding space when necessary, but complementing each other in their roles.
As with “Heatstroke,” Harris provides a hypnotic pulse using his Ibanez 1200 bass, but the groove is anchored by Khalid’s soul man R&B. During the changeover from his hook to Future’s verse, Roland analog synths creep up over the Atlanta rapper’s shoulder as he staggers his cadences. “I’ll shatter your dreams with this cream I make/Gotta be on codeine to think of the shit I say,” he sings, closing the distance between Future the monster and Future the pop star. Perhaps that’s the biggest reveal from the Calvin Harris reinvention: He’s capable of nudging stars into giving more of themselves. As Future and Khalid ease into their respective comfort zones, they radiate nonchalance.
