Isaac Dunbar is getting an early start on 2025, and if “Late to the Party” is any sign, he’s arriving on his terms fashionably and unapologetically. The rousing anthem, which marks his first independent project since 2018, not only sets the stage for his next chapter but also shows how much of a beast he is with total creative freedom.
“Late to the Party,” at its best, is also comfortingly familiar, if still surprising, nostalgic yet new. Dunbar draws from vintage rock grit and 2010s euphoric pop, folding them into a sound that sounds around him easier than his own. His trademark knack for referencing without recycling shines through fully, creating a track that ignores anybody’s handbook.
From the opening verse, his smooth, evocative vocals ride over razor-sharp lyricism, suggesting a cinematic vista with every line. But the chorus erupts, and no one can be held responsible, an explosion of energy that can only be known at maximum volume. “Late to the Party” takes on new forms as it traverses, veering from sleek and sultry to anthemic and urgent, the narrative of who we are constantly switching up like the song.
With “Late to the Party,” Dunbar is not only making a statement, but he’s making an entrance. And if this is only the start of his 2025 era, we can only wait to see where he will take us next.