The Canadian singer-songwriter Francesco Yates arrived with a self-titled debut that balanced youthful exuberance with remarkable technical control. Co-written by Matt Morris, “Better to Be Loved” and “Call” capture Yates’s distinctive blend of pop immediacy and soul inflection — songs that nod to classic funk and R&B while maintaining a contemporary sheen. The record’s polish and rhythmic confidence helped establish Yates as one of Canada’s most promising new artists, earning him national airplay, critical recognition, and an early role in the country’s expanding pop-soul landscape. While brief, Francesco Yates functions as a statement of intent: a demonstration of range, craft, and charisma from an artist whose presence in Canadian pop suggested both homage to tradition and a confident step into modernity.