Kiefer might be best known as part of Mndsgn.’s live band, but just last year, he released his debut solo album on Leaving Records, Kickinit Alone. Now, the UCLA-trained jazz pianist/beatmaker comes back with his sophomore effort, Happysad, this time on Stones Throw.

It might seem a little obvious to say it out loud, but what helps separate Kiefer from the rest of the pack is the combination of his ability as a general hip hop producer and as a jazz pianist. There are plenty of producers out there who are competent on the keyboards, enough to play a melody and some chord changes, but few can even come close to the technical proficiency of what Kiefer is laying down on the piano. On the flip side, while Kiefer studied jazz piano from an esteemed program, he’s also been making beats since he was twelve, so he’s not just dabbling with a drum machine, either. Instead, what we have is someone who has been developing their own unique style of music for quite some time, despite this being just his second album. The result is an album that won’t blow you away at first but will slowly creep up on you as it slowly reveals its beauty. As indicated by the title, Kiefer was interested in exploring the areas of life where happiness and sadness intertwine and communicating those feelings through his music. What this means in practical terms is that Kiefer has composed this really gentle, beautiful, and melancholic album that really takes its time to unfold and develop. Kiefer isn’t a flashy piano player, but if you pay close attention, you can catch all these sophisticated ways in which he’s adding interest to his compositions, from voicings to flourishes. What it really comes down to though, is Kiefer’s tender touch on the piano, and how soulful his playing is. On top of that, while his production also eschews any flashiness, he’s not just feeding you generic downtempo beats, either. He finds some interesting ways to keep the rhythm and the rest of the instrumentation moving and unpredictable without getting too busy or complicated. It’s the type of album that you’ll want to spend a lot of one-on-one time with, so you can really get lost in the brilliance of Kiefer’s arrangements.

Kiefer might not be well known as a solo artist yet, but that should change sooner rather than later. With Happysad, he’s given us a really mature, thoughtful, and soulful album full of downtempo jazz, all while developing his own distinct artistic voice.