Destin Conrad Releases Album ‘wHIMSY’
GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter DESTIN CONRAD expands his artistry with the release of the alternative jazz album, wHIMSY, out now via EMPIRE. The project highlights DESTIN’s versatility, blending jazz textures with the effortless cool that defines his sound while officially introducing his masculine alter ego, MR. E, first hinted at on his debut album LOVE ON DIGITAL through the track and video “MR. E.” With collaborators including Terrace Martin, James Fauntleroy, Keyon Harrold, Vanisha Gould, Ambré, and more, wHIMSY fuses tradition with innovation, blending whimsical textures with a grounded, precise sensibility.
“wHIMSY is an off the cuff, free idea, that is my passion project,” DESTIN shares. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do—from my years in the Jazz Choir during high school to now, having the opportunity to release this project and reinventing what Jazz means to me now.”
The focus track, “wASH YOU AWAY,” immerses listeners in MR. E’s world, drifting on percussive rhythms, rich horn accents, and airy textures that echo the lyrical pull of DESTIN’s desire to wash someone away. His buttery vocals glide over the arrangement to create a sense of motion and intimacy, translating his alter ego’s playful yet grounded energy into a sophisticated jazz-infused world.
DESTIN CONRAD’s LOVE ON DIGITAL North American headline tour, promoted by Live Nation, kicks off September 13 in Denver, CO, and hits Houston, Nashville, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Toronto, Chicago, and concludes in Los Angeles, with rising R&B standout Mack Keane joining as support. This week, DESTIN announced the European leg of the tour, starting on December 3 in Oslo, Norway, with stops in London, Paris, and more before wrapping up at in Manchester, UK on December 16. West London R&B vocalist Cari will support across the European dates. Tickets are available at destinconrad.com.
DESTIN’s debut album, LOVE ON DIGITAL, released earlier this year, marked a defining moment for the rising R&B star while showcasing his instinct for innovation. Debuting at #3 on Apple Music’s R&B/Soul Albums chart and #7 on Spotify’s U.S. albums chart, the project has earned over 31 million streams to date. Reimagining modern love through vibrant storytelling rooted in FaceTime calls, voice notes, time zones, and touchscreens, DESTIN fuses Y2K nostalgia with sleek, forward-thinking production. With features from Kehlani, Lil Nas X, Teezo Touchdown, and serpentwithfeet, the album blends humor, heartbreak, and vulnerability, and demonstrates DESTIN’s ability to expand R&B’s boundaries by weaving fresh sonic textures.
From the unapologetic, joy-fueled anthem “BAD BITCHES” ft. Kehlani to the queer love celebration of “KISSING IN PUBLIC,” the simmering longing of “DELUSIONAL” and the emotional tug-of-war on “THE LAST TIME” ft. Teezo Touchdown, each track offers a nuanced portrait of connection and disconnection in the digital age. Cinematic and diaristic in tone, LOVE ON DIGITAL established DESTIN as one of the most essential voices in contemporary R&B. With cover stories with Spotify’s RNBX Magazine and Yams Magazine and features in Billboard, Essence, EBONY, GENIUS, and Apple Music’s Nadeska, DESTIN has expanded his reach through standout moments like his COLORS performance of “MAKE IT UP” and a nationally televised interview with ABC News Live.
Raised in Tampa, Florida, DESTIN first gained attention on Vine before stepping into music, penning songs for Kehlani’s Billboard No. 2 album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t and releasing his first project, COLORWAY in 2021. In the years since, he’s released fan favorites like SATIN and the dual projects SUBMISSIVE and SUBMISSIVE 2. With a growing body of work and an ever-expanding audience, DESTIN continues to push the boundaries of contemporary music. With wHIMSY, he channels that same instinct for reinvention, exploring jazz textures, whimsical arrangements, and his alter ego MR. E, further establishing his versatility and visionary approach to music.
PC: @ryder