Destin Conrad didn't overthink his first jazz project - that's exactly why it works

"After a two-week whirlwind in L.A. filled with studio sessions with some of his bucket list collaborators like Gould, trumpeter Keyon Harrold and beloved L.A. saxophonist Terrace Martin, Conrad unveiled "Whimsy," an 11-track alternative jazz detour. Rich with songwriting tinged with sensual winks, live instrumentation (piano, horn section and drums) and a spoken word interlude by Bay Davis (that is reminiscent of Meshell Ndegeocello), "Whimsy" is a masterclass in following your own intuition and creating freely - a testament to his Cancer sun."

"The 25-year-old singer-songwriter, who first made millions of people laugh on Vine when he was a preteen, entered the music industry as a fresh-faced R&B artist, following in the footsteps of the artists he grew up listening to such as Brandy, Musiq Soulchild and Usher. His first official EP "Colorway" (2021) and the slew of bite-size projects that followed were melodic and honest meditations on love, lust, queer identity and simply having a good time."

"He was inspired by all of the greats and contemporary work by artists like Vanisha Gould, and decided that it was time for a slight departure in his own sound. "I feel like it's always kind of been in me," Conrad says over Zoom during an off day from his second headlining tour in support of "Love on Digital." "It's always been a tool that I never really got to exercise that I knew I really wanted to.""

Destin Conrad moved from early Vine fame into an R&B career influenced by Brandy, Musiq Soulchild and Usher. Early releases, including the EP Colorway (2021), explored love, lust, queer identity and fun. During the summer Conrad gravitated to jazz after exposure in high school jazz choir and influence from contemporary artists like Vanisha Gould. After intensive L.A. studio sessions with collaborators such as Gould, Keyon Harrold and Terrace Martin, Conrad released Whimsy, an 11-track alternative jazz detour. Whimsy features live piano, horn section, drums and a Bay Davis spoken-word interlude, blending sensual songwriting and intuitive creativity, with tracks like "Whip" showcasing playful double entendres.

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