For BRYANT KEITH, R&B offers more than a vehicle for romance; it provides a way of examining what happens inside the mind when emotions are pushed towards their limits. The Indianapolis-born, Houston-based artist, songwriter, producer and psychologist describes his distinctive approach as “psychological R&B”, bringing existential and emotional questions into atmospheric contemporary production.
His latest single ‘IMPATIENT’ takes that philosophy into particularly turbulent territory. Lifted from forthcoming EP 'THE LOVE PACT', the track explores the point where desire, uncertainty and emotional exhaustion begin to blur into desperation. Written and produced in BRYANT's home studio following one of the darkest periods of his life, its moody textures and early-2000s R&B influences create an immersive backdrop for a song concerned with loving someone even when patience has almost completely disappeared.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with was the voice. I sang in choir in church at an early age, later joining my high school choral ensemble. It was here where I learned about dynamics, harmony, and tone. No matter how many years go by and how many records I produce, I always seem to come back to the voice being the universal and malleable instruments I have come in contact with.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I grew up listening to 90s and early 2000 R&B on the radio. Artists like Joe, Brandy, Aaliyah, Usher, Michael Jackson, and Blu Cantrell. I loved the fusion between hip hop production and soulful, layered, and smooth vocals. It was also during this time where movie soundtracks exposed me to artists like Seal, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and other rock acts. It made me appreciate how songs could supersede the genre they were intended to inhabit and become universal.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I remember owning was 8701 by Usher. It stayed in my mother’s car for years and was always on hand when I wanted to turn on “U Remind Me” or “U Got it Bad”.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I would definitely say “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal. It’s the definition of timeless. That song could have been written in any era and been seen as contemporary pop, alternative rock, or R&B. Plus the raw emotion Seal puts in that record is next to none.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I write music truly from an emotion forward place. I allow my emotion to direct all the initial choices I make for production, vocals, and lyrics, even if there will be refinement later. My primary goal when writing a song is to transmit a feeling before any word is spoken. I’ve found that when I am trying to be experimental for experiment sake, or trying to show vocal ability for the sake of it, that mission is lost. This is probably why I sometimes go months between writing my records because I know the soul of where my music comes from, and that’s not going away.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’ve really enjoyed listening to Sondae. I love his take on Indie/Christian music and his vocal technique is powerful. Cortex has also really caught my attention with the atmosphere he generates from a record, leaning into that early 2000’s sound. Lekan is another R&B artist I have found myself returning back to frequently due to how he carries so much gravity in his tone. He doesn’t have to overseeing a record for you to feel it.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Wheww that is a hard one. But I would love to open a show for Snoh Aalegra. I am absolutely in love with her sound and her meta study on modern love, heartbreak, and longing. I think my music occupies the same stratosphere, just a different corner.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Connection. The relationships I’ve made over the years through notes, words, and various songs have led to conversations and bonds I will cherish for a lifetime. Music led me to sit outside with my best friend talking about the meaning of life and why we exist. It gave me a space to process the most vulnerable moments of my life with rooms of people who have gone through similar experiences. Genuinely, I would never want to replace that.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Doubt. Going through a season of learning and re-learning myself in order to transmit that through the limitations of my abilities in that given period of time. It can be crippling and frustrating, but I am learning to embrace it as a part of the journey and not putting too much pressure on myself. What will be, will be.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Less is more. Sometimes when we don’t know what a song is missing, we add another instrument, another top line, another bridge, etc. We just keep adding. But I have found that often when something is missing, it means we have a duty to refine what is already there, not add more. Because sometimes keeping things simple allows for the rawest and most intimate expression of truth. And in the end, that is one of the primary jobs of any artist or musician, at least to me.
-
BRYANT KEITH's new single 'IMPATIENT' is out now. Check it out in the player below.