wHIMSY!: Translucent Emerald & Gold Vinyl LP

Pre-Order Item. Release Date Subject to Change.
Label: Destin Conrad / EMPIRE
Release Date: 21st August

Destin Conrad goes alternative modern jazz soul on 'wHIMSY!' and goodness me, could this be one of the most inventive, impassioned and out-there rnb soul records of the year. It's Thundercat meets BBNG with lilts of latin jazz, a smoother jazz fusion sound and touches of 'Innervisions' era Stevie Wonder. ACE RECORD.

With wHIMSY!, DESTIN CONRAD undergoes a striking sonic metamorphosis, trading the polished, digital sheen of his earlier R&B for the raw, organic warmth of live instrumentation and alternative jazz. Recorded during an intensive two-week session in Los Angeles under the creative direction of Mr. E, the album captures the "whims" of intimacy through a lens that feels less like a studio product and more like a live set in a late-night lounge. By prioritizing space and improvisation over rigid structures, Destin positions himself as a maestro of emotion, navigating the messy, beautiful stages of a relationship with a newfound sense of vulnerability.

The project’s brilliance lies in its seamless fusion of traditional jazz foundations with contemporary soul storytelling. This synergy is immediate on the opening track "wHIP," where Keyon Harrold’s trumpet engages in a sultry call-and-response with Destin’s vocals, a dynamic that carries through to the Terrace Martin-assisted "wASH U AWAY." Between these high-level collaborations, the album breathes through intentional moments of reflection, such as the spoken-word beauty of "GLORY a poem by Bay Davis" and the atmospheric "AMBRÈ’S INTERLUDE BUT JAZZ," ensuring the listener remains fully immersed in the record’s cinematic, noir-tinged atmosphere.

The guest list on wHIMSY! further solidifies its status as a high-art collective effort, featuring contributions that push Destin into new creative pockets. From the vocal interplay with Vanisha Gould on "BOREDOM" and "A Lonely Detective" to the harmonic mastery of James Fauntleroy and Astyn Turr on "The W," the album is populated by musical architects who understand the "whimsical" vision. Closing with the raw honesty of "HARD!" and the high-energy closure of "LALALALA," DESTIN CONRAD proves he is more than an R&B singer—he is a world-builder who can romanticize the mundane until it feels like a classic film.