Chapter one: the Toronto apprenticeship
Jefferies came up through Toronto's production scene (see our producers feature) — the OVO affiliation, the atmospheric production style developing: the spacious synths, the heavy low end, the melancholic melodies. The dvsn partnership (with singer Daniel Daley) became the primary vehicle — the Sept. 5th (2016) and Morning After (2017) albums establishing the "glow" that defined the late-2010s R&B sound.
Chapter two: the Drake co-productions
The parallel career: Nineteen85 co-produced Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" (2013) — the atmospheric pop-R&B hybrid that became one of the decade's defining singles — and continued contributing to the OVO catalog. The sound: the 80s-influenced synths, the spacious production, the melancholic uplift — the template for modern R&B radio.
Chapter three: the legacy
The legacy: the "glow" as a production signature — the spacious, atmospheric R&B that dominated the 2010s and influenced the decade's pop production. Nineteen85's sound is embedded in the modern R&B DNA: the space, the low end, the melancholy. The glow holds. The architecture endures.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nineteen85?
Paul Jefferies — Toronto producer, dvsn’s sonic architect, Drake co-producer (“Hold On, We’re Going Home”).
What is Nineteen85’s signature sound?
The “glow” — spacious synths, heavy low end, melancholic melodies.
What did Nineteen85 produce for Drake?
“Hold On, We’re Going Home” (2013) — the atmospheric pop-R&B hybrid.