The Joy of Bren.. BREN JOY

The discovery of new music and the artists who make it, is a pure passion of mine. Its like finding money or striking gold. Its a personal joy to engulf yourself in the new find and make it your own island. Imagine the joy of discovering Prince or D’Angelo before your friends.. and even more so.. before they go mainstream. I recently discovered the music of a new young artist who’s music I must say, gives me those same feeling of pure euphoria. And actually got the opportunity to interview him. Which opened my eyes as well as my ears to why and where, this brilliant music flows from such an exuberant well of creation. Vocalist BREN JOY, makes the kind of music that wraps around you makes you want to stay awhile . Beginning with the 2019 indie release Twenties introducing the singer, songwriter, lyricist, and pianist on the eight-track EP, which amassed over 15 million streams independently. The 23-year-old fused elements of jazz, hip-hop, pop, and gospel with experimental soul music while delving into the complexities of early adulthood. A Vocalist in the vein of Miguel and Rashaan Patterson, BREN rides a track like a rollercoaster with dips and dives that makes the ride even more enjoyable with every turn of a note. “I started music in my last year of Highschool. And was a Vocal Major in College. We would study opera and classical. But I would bring in sheet music from say Kirk Franklin and ask why did Kirk do this or that or sustain a note here or there. I Wanted to learn how to break down the melodies and chords.” ..speaking on his thirst for musical knowledge. “I’m big on musicality,” he says. “I love crazy piano parts and unique chord structures and progressions.” Lettin you know that BREN takes his passion seriously and its part of the fabric you get when listening to his music and more so talking and dealing with the person. His vibrant honesty and humility is front and center.

The young Vocal major became interested in writing his own music which led to the creation of the “Twenties” EP. A refreshing take on R&B, the EP rides a wave of warmth thanks to the vocals of BREN, whos Tenor to falsetto soars to rhythmic perfection on up tempos like “Sweet”, “Headline” and “Freezing”. But dips to soothe on melancholic and introspective songs like “Lil Rich” and the Breakout single “Insecure” feat. Pink $weats. Its the sheer vocal power and control he displays that is the selling point to BREN JOY. Add to that, That he has a solid pen game. Along with collaborators The Noise Club , Caleb Lee and more, have a firm grasp on where they are trying to go. And its Soulful and Fun simultaneously, with being uplifting in vibe. The lyricism and vocal performance is more than satisfying when he goes in on the inspirationally flavored “Multiply”. With a chorus singing: “So tell me why broken people make themselves go crazy. Getting so lost in the blessing of the day. You gotta put trust in sequels, though they make you crazy.. You will see God will show you a great escape..” BREN takes you into his own spiritual enlightenment and Faith in the God in humanity. The elevation reached on “Scottie Pippen” is worth a repeat or two as BREN takes his vocal arrangements on a trip to the stratosphere for a vocal exercise that will trigger Take 6 like comparisons.. Lets just say Twenties, is the perfect soundtrack to the discovery of self in our Young adult years, with BREN JOY as our narrator. Encompassing all the joy, pain, confusion and revelation that comes with self acceptance when you are learning who you are. And also learning to embrace and love that person. Thanks Bren!!

“I just want to be an artist that people find eclectic and see me as challenging the comfortability and the relatability of R&B , and pushing it a little Left field, a little right field or whatever. And the music (I’m making ) we’re gearing up for next year is just that a little left field and thats the point. Is to challenge it like the Kid Cudi’s and Childish Gambino’s and all of my inspirations who have done exactly that. Is they started in their inspirations and their comfort zones and slowly veered in and out and out and in. I just wanna hopefully one day be put next to those artists.” states the young artist who cites J. Dilla, Childish Gambino Theopholis London & Kid Cudi as inspirations in his Eclectic brand of music. Signed to Big Loud Management as well as a publishing deal at Warner Chappell. BREN is also a part of the Human Re Sources music family led by Industry veteran J. Erving, who has worked with the likes of Miguel, John Legend and in Hop Hop with legends Wu- Tang and Mobb Deep. As one of the first shots since the Company’s announced merger with Sony, BREN JOY will no doubt bring in early returns as a member of the New Class of R&B. Coming on the scene with artists like Lucky Daye, Khalid, Victoria Monet and more. He pushes a brand of R&B that is traditionally soulful while exploring and blending melodies and rhythms that speak to diversity in sound. “I feel really proud of R&B right now. I think its getting back to where it was in the 2000s when it was at the top of the charts. I think its weird right now. I think it doesn’t make sense right now. I think its (Sometimes) overly personal. I think people are taking bad moments in their life and putting it into albums. And, I think thats the point of R&B. And thats what makes me really Happy about it right now.” Giving his observations of R&B in 2021, he more than fits in with landscape of those currently creating and shaping R&B music for this and future generations. The air around BREN JOY is fresh, exciting and enticing. He is currently on tour with co – hort Pink $weats and loving every moment . He is still very much the student of the game sucking up every piece of the experience to make himself a better artist and all around him, a better team for the duration.. “I used to Music Direct my own shows. Now a good friend of mine does it for me. It plays a part in knowing what’s going on. You should know your shows inside and out.. you have to know the theory as to where things are going. Why things are doing it and why things sound a certain way. That’s what I look at when I look at incredible shows. One of Doja Cats MDs is one of my favorites. He is a Beast at that. He goes to chords not because they sound cool, but because that’s what the crowd is gonna feel from a certain kind of voicing versus another. “ Speaking on the experience and intricacies of putting together a Live show that can either make a sow successful or make a show pedestrian. You can tell he lives for knowledge as much as he lives for being a creative. An awesome songwriter and producer who co produced the bulk of his materiel, BREN pays attention to and respects those before him and how they make their legacies solid. There is a difference between simply writing a song or making music vs. just programming a beat loop.. “Even if you’re not into music. Just learning about Power Chords and why Hits are Hits. Like Why (Pop Producer Legend ) Max Martin doesn’t use 7th Chords.. That’s a Game Changer when it comes to writing. That little tidbit right there will change the way you write hooks and everything.” I must say that the thing that sticks with me after spending some time with BREN JOY,. Is his pure passion for what he does and has been called to do. He’s not half stepping or taking the easy way and the right doors and ears have come in his path. But we, the listener, are rewarded with an artist who is as earnest as the music he creates is fluid. Heres to the Joy of BREN JOY. – Terry Martin for RnBInTheD.com

VISUALS

Bren Joy – Headlines – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvlYpDefxRM

Bren Joy – Insecure ft. Pink $weats – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ta-Utziv2I

STREAM

Bren Joy – Twenties (Deluxe ) Stream – https://brenjoy.lnk.to/twentiesdeluxe

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vZ5UD5pIliRPSdHHj9EUp?si=lCK67-pSRDWLtA_VPKFfmg

Website – https://www.brenjoy.com/