Daniel Caesar

Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds (born April 5, 1995), known professionally as Daniel Caesar, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After independently building a following through the release of two EPs, Praise Break (2014) and Pilgrim's Paradise (2015), Caesar released his debut studio album, Freudian, in 2017, which received three Grammy Award nominations, winning for the collaboration with American singer H.E.R. "Best Part". In 2019 he released his second studio album, Case Study 01, longlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.

In 2021 Caesar featured alongside Giveon on Justin Bieber's single "Peaches", his first number-one song on the US Billboard Hot 100, and receiving four nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. In 2023 Caesar published his third studio album, Never Enough through Republic Records, winning his second Juno Awards. In 2025, Caesar released his fourth studio album Son of Spergy, which became his third top-ten album on the Billboard Canadian Albums and first on the Billboard 200.

Through his career, Caesar has collaborated with several artists, including Brandy, Kali Uchis, Ty Dolla Sign, Summer Walker, Common, Omar Apollo, Bon Iver, and has written songs for Mary J. Blige, SZA, Tyler, the Creator, Shawn Mendes and Kanye West. He was also awarded two Soul Train Music Awards, a MTV Video Music Awards and an ASCAP Awards.

Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds was born on April 5, 1995, in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Oshawa. He is the second eldest of four children to his mother Hollace Burnett-Simmonds and father Norwill Simmonds, a gospel singer who released his first album as a high school student in Jamaica. Caesar attended the Seventh-day Adventist Church and private school in Oshawa. He is of Bajan and Jamaican descent. Caesar grew up in church, singing before his father's congregation in Oshawa. He was raised listening to soul and gospel delivered through musicality and religion, even though his parents were cautious of temptations that came with music. Caesar longed for the city, which was a one-hour drive from his home.

At the age of 17, Caesar was kicked out of the house after a fight with his father on the weekend of his high school graduation; he was briefly homeless during this time. He felt no choice but to pursue his calling as a musician. After leaving his home, he began doing gigs. He connected with producers and future collaborators Jordan Evans and Matthew Burnett and began writing and recording what would be his debut EP Praise Break in 2014; it was No. 19 on the "20 Best R&B Albums of 2014" by Rolling Stone and the top projects of 2014 by Noisey Canada.

Caesar's career gained notability in 2015, with the release of his second EP, Pilgrim's Paradise. The album received positive critical acclaim and, while not immediately a commercial success, "Streetcar", the cover of Kanye West's 2008 song "Street Lights", became a fan favorite.

On August 25, 2017, Caesar released his debut album Freudian, which includes the singles "Get You", "We Find Love", and "Blessed". The album featured artists like Kali Uchis, H.E.R., Syd, and Charlotte Day Wilson. It also included uncredited vocals from the Cadaro Tribe. The album was a shortlisted finalist for the 2018 Polaris Music Prize. At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, Caesar received two nominations for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance for "Get You". At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Caesar won Best R&B Performance for his single "Best Part".

In March 2019, Caesar received backlash for defending his friend Julieanna Goddard via an Instagram live stream. Goddard had been criticized for her racist comments on Black people, particularly those regarding Black women. He later apologized for his comments.