Adrian Daniel’s “Requiem” Adds Brooklyn Twist to R&B

Singer, songwriter, and producer Adrian Daniel, a native of Brooklyn, is making a name for himself once again, following the release of his latest album, Requiem.

The R&B neo soul artist released his thirteen-track project in late November of 2022 . With over 1.4 million total streams to date, Daniel aims to sway the stereotypical Brooklyn music scene from hip-hop and indie to rhythm and blues, but with a twist. 

To get the ball rolling, the first track, “Nothing Left,” starts out with mysterious tonation, as Daniel teases signature falsetto riffs. The track then shapeshifts musically, where the standard verse and chorus plays over the track until listeners are suddenly captivated by a female voice in spoken word. 

Daniel’s most thought-provoking and meaningful lyrics are ever-present in “Won’t Judge,” where he conveys a message of the need for resilience and the removal of toxicity, singing lyrics such as “who’s perfect in this world in this time and age.” This is a central theme throughout the album for Daniel.

If you’re looking to let loose a bit, track two, “Back to Life,” was created for you. The reverberating downbeats on the production track fill the space needed for enjoyment, as Daniel samples the Soul II Soul classic song of the same name. I personally replayed it three times.  Some honorable mentions on the album are “Safe in My Arms,” “You Slay Me” and “Lie to Me” for their infectious chorus and subsequent backtracks, and “Reasons,” specifically for the subtle, yet chilling use of panning on its track. 

Adrian Daniel’s sound breaks through the R&B norms, as he sneaks elements of pop, electronic rhythms, and soul into his effortless vocal range. By creating a sound very comparable to artists such as The Weekend, Daniel manages to stand out with an element signature to him, that being his perfect mixture of sounds deeply rooted in the borough he hails from. You can listen to Requiem anywhere you stream music. 

Publisher’s Note: Photos are by Keaton Matusich (https://keatonmatusich.com) , courtesy of 1990 Records (https://1990records.org)…….