This Sunday is a very big day for the world’s most famous candle tycoon. Drake’s scented candles are finally going on sale to the public.
Remember last year when he started sending mysterious blue candles to celebrities, and they all shared photos on Instagram? Kehlani got one. Steph Curry got one. The whole damn Toronto Raptors roster got ’em. Well, on May 9, you can get one of your own on the Better World Fragrance House website. That’s one way to spend Mother’s Day.
For $48, you’ll be able to pick from one of four scents: “Sweeter Tings,” “Williamsburg Sleepover,” “Good Thoughts,” or “Muskoka.” And if you’re the kind of person who would spend $85 on a candle, you can up the ante and purchase one that’s designed to “actually smell like Drake.” It’s called “Carby Musk.” Of course it is.
Anyway, a “Good Thoughts” candle showed up at my doorstep this week in advance of the official launch. The packaging looks cool (it comes with a little gold Sharpie) and the candle smells nice, but what really caught my attention was the note that came in the box. Drake writes about how “each candle is designed for relaxation and personalization” and says his goal is to “better your mood and surroundings.” Then he finishes the note with the line: “I suggest playing the album that inspired this whole project the first time you light one: Midnite – Live In Eugene.”
Wait a minute. These candles come with a soundtrack? And it sounds like Drake came up with this whole candle enterprise while listening to an album called Live In Eugene? Interesting. I immediately typed the album name into Spotify so I could enjoy this expensive ass candle the way Drake intended it to be enjoyed. Nothing came up. Then I tried Apple Music. Nothing. TIDAL. Nothing. Damn.
I’m assuming I’m not the only one who will end up in this situation when these candles make their way into the world and people go hunting for information. So, here’s everything you need to know about the roots reggae album Drake wants you to hear when you’re burning his candles.
Who is Midnite?
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Midnite is a roots reggae band that first got its start in the US Virgin Islands in 1989. It was started by two brothers named Vaughn Benjamin and Ron Benjamin, who were later joined by bandmates Christian Molina, Edmund Fieulleteau, Edwin Byron, and Ras L. Guided by Vaughn’s powerful vocals and his brother’s rootsy musical arrangements, Midnite’s music is known for its spiritual and political themes. Starting with Unpolished in 1997, the band released 11 solo albums and dozens of collaborative projects before Vaughn passed away in 2019 at the age of 50.
What is the ‘Live in Eugene’ album?
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There isn’t much information about this album available on the internet, so I spent way too long on old reggae blogs and forums digging up anything I could. Here’s what I found.
The two-disc live album was recorded in Eugene, Oregon back in 2004, but it wasn’t formally released until 2012. According to this incredible blog post by a fan (I encourage you to read it if you have the time and enjoy enthusiastic writing) Midnite traveled through the West Coast in 2004, playing shows in small cities like Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and Portland. One of those concerts took place in Eugene, Oregon, at a venue called the WOW Hall (if this archived show preview in a University of Oregon student paper is to be believed).
So, if you connect the dots, it seems someone decided to record the show, and then release it as a live album nearly a decade later. One decade after that, it inspired the most successful rapper on the planet to make his own line of candles. Crazy how the world works.
Why does Drake want us to listen to this while burning candles?
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That’s a more difficult question to answer. Drake didn’t elaborate in the note (besides the fact that Live In Eugene somehow inspired him to start this candle venture) but I like to imagine he was vacationing in Barbados or something and stumbled into a local record store, where he ended up buying a stack of old albums. When he got back to his lavish rental home, he fired up the hookah, lit some candles, and let the sweet sounds of Vaughn Benjamin’s voice wash over him. Drake knows a good vibe when he feels one, and he wanted to share it with the world. Now, here we are. Look at us.
Where can I hear the album?
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Unfortunately, Live In Eugene is not available on major streaming platforms. But you can find some of the songs on YouTube (I’ve sprinkled them throughout this article, including one right above these words). If you’re feeling the vibes, you can purchase it on Amazon or wander into a random record store and hope for the best. Happy hunting.
