Bren Joy Releases His Album “Sunset Black”
Bren Joy’s album Sunset Black released on February 21, combines smart composition, subtle writing and sharp instrumentation. It explores themes of love and self-reflection with undertones of quick wit. The album mixes pop, r&b, hip-hop, jazz, and folk, captivating listeners from the start with twelve tracks distinct from each other. On the A-side, “Blue Jay” markedly features peppy guitar strums and high-pitched vocals, promoting hope and optimism. Co-written by Bren Joy and guitarist Conrad Boyd, the song sets the tone for an eclectic ride. The rapid tonal shifts between “Cherry,” “No Fear/Horse” and “Couture” showcase Bren Joy’s range between playfulness and sincerity. While “BloodOnTheTimbs” uses a falsetto to express a hopeless romantic’s hopeful yearning. “Wandering” has a slight James Blunt-esque quality, with Joy’s rich vocals conjuring images of lovelorn lovers in an intimate bar.
On the B-side, “Policeman” is a zestful piece with clever lyrics. Standout tracks “El Dorado” and “Shiver” showcase Bren Joy’s smooth voice and flirtatious lyrics. “Fangs” works as effective outro, with high-pitched vocals, electronic beats and lyrics honoring love and God. Sunset Black features collaborations with artists such as Austin Brown, Blake Ruby, Sam Brash, Michael Bruns, Bartees Strange.
Bren Joy Announces Tour Dates
Nashville-born Bren Joy discovered his passion early, influenced by his grandfather, a Black record store in the Music City. His collaboration on “Dynasties and Dystopia” with artists Denzel Curry and Gizzle for the TV series “Arcane: League of Legends” was an instant hit with over 136 million Spotify streams. With 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and a growing social media following, Bren Joy is a rising Black artist.
To celebrate “Sunset Black,” Bren Joy announced a tour starting March 17 at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco, CA. He will perform in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Nashville, Washington DC, New York City, Cambridge, Toronto eventually wrapping up the tour on April 3 at Lincoln Hall in Chicago on April 3.
Limited edition Vinyl records of “Sunset Black” are available for pre-order.
Featured Image Credits: Brakou Abdelghani/Pexels