Primed for a major moment in 2024, rising singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and alternative outlier Bryant Barnes proudly presents his emotive and vibe-laden debut VANITY EP out now via Mercury Records.
Listen to VANITY HERE.
Fresh out the gates, the focus track “I’d Rather Pretend†has exploded virally, with follower counts skyrocketing and his previous five singles reaching new daily streaming peaks as a result. On his personal channels alone, cumulative views for “I’d Rather Pretend†have already crossed 17 million views on TikTok and are currently approaching 10 million views on Instagram Reels. On the song, Bryant’s vocals flutter over a piano driven track as he wrestles with mixed feelings as he exhales, “I want to love you but I’m scared, so I’d rather pretend.â€
Elsewhere on the 7 track debut written and produced by Bryant Barnes and others, he emerges with a catchy and genre bending vision for alternative pop punctuated by indie spirit and enigmatic energy.
“Don’t Let It Be U†sees an upbeat acoustic guitar coast over an organic beat, while he flexes his skyscraper-size high register. During the anthemic hook, he pleads, “Don’t let it be you, what was my faith for?†Electric guitar revs up “Universe,†while Bryant yearns to escape, “Take me to your world.†A groovy bassline thumps through “Want You All The Time†topped off with a promise, “I will never hurt you again.â€
Check out the full tracklisting below!
Bryant paved the way for this body of work with “Give Me A Sign.†Beyond tallying over two million streams and counting, it earned critical acclaim. OnesToWatch hailed it as “a track that synthesizes lo-fi pop with alternative R&B into something just as unique as it is polished,†proceeding to predict, “Barnes is sure to carry R&B on his back all summer.â€
He first gave his followers a sneak peek of the song on Instagram Reels, and it blew up, racking up over 6.5 million views. The hype led to 15K pre-saves, proving fans were hungry for more.
It landed in the wake of “Don’t Want A Love Song,†which has popped off to the tune of over 4.1 million Spotify streams and 2 million views on its music video. Garnering critical acclaim, Rated R&B highlighted how “On the melancholic ballad, driven by an acoustic guitar, Barnes laments about the void left by unrequited love.†SWEETY HIGH proclaimed, “Bryant Barnes is one to watch in 2024,†going on to elaborate, “The singer-songwriter and musician puts all of his talents on vulnerable display on the new track, and he\’s just getting started.
He notably capped off 2023 with “Adore You – Acoustic.†The latter highlighted the raw power of his vocals. The original “Adore You†has seen huge early success across all streaming platforms and continues to gain traction in addition to inciting tastemaker applause. Beyond plugs from Neon Music and more, Music & Fashion Blog promised, “Within the first 30 seconds you’ll be transported into a sexy mood with soft beats and vocals you’ll just want to swim in.†Plus, Banger of the Day raved, “From his vocal tone to his songwriting, he is leagues above his industry counterparts. Bryant Barnes has the ‘IT’ factor.â€
Experience VANITY now!
VANITY EP Tracklisting:
- Give Me A Sign
- Want You All The Time
- Don’t Let it Be U
- I’d Rather Pretend
- Don’t Want A Love Song
- Adore You
- Universe
About Bryant Barnes:
As soon as his fingers connect to an instrument, soul and spirit fill the room. Music freely flows through Bryant Barnes the Houston-born singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist everywhere he goes. Born in Cypress, TX, he moved back and forth between Tacoma, WA and the Houston area as a kid. At six-years-old, mom and dad placed him in classical piano lessons, which he continued through freshman year of high school. During middle school, he learned cello and joined the orchestra. His basketball ambitions would be derailed by a torn ACL, so he rapped for fun. Throughout COVID, Bryant gained traction on TikTok with viral piano covers of XXXTENTACION, Joji, Mac Miller, Brent Faiyaz, and more in addition to the Interstellar score. Viral videos captured him behind the public pianos at LAX and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Along the way, he grabbed a microphone and guitar. Between building an audience of 1.7 million on TikTok, he quietly crafted a signature style of his own. His cover of “Carry On†by XXXTENTACION and Shiloh Dynasty caught the attention of Mercury Records who promptly signed him in 2023. After generating hundreds of millions of views online, earning co-signs from the likes of Trippie Redd and Kodak Black, and landing a deal with Mercury Records, he merges grainy lo-fi and emotionally-electrified R&B through a deliberate handcrafted approach on a series of 2023 singles and much more to come.
As soon as his fingers connect to an instrument, soul and spirit fill the room. Music freely flows through Bryant Barnes the Houston-born singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist everywhere he goes. Born in Cypress, TX, he moved back and forth between Tacoma, WA and the Houston area as a kid. At six-years-old, mom and dad placed him in classical piano lessons, which he continued through freshman year of high school. During middle school, he learned cello and joined the orchestra. His basketball ambitions would be derailed by a torn ACL, so he rapped for fun. Throughout COVID, Bryant gained traction on TikTok with viral piano covers of XXXTENTACION, Joji, Mac Miller, Brent Faiyaz, and more in addition to the Interstellar score. Viral videos captured him behind the public pianos at LAX and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Along the way, he grabbed a microphone and guitar. Between building an audience of 1.7 million on TikTok, he quietly crafted a signature style of his own. His cover of “Carry On†by XXXTENTACION and Shiloh Dynasty caught the attention of Mercury Records who promptly signed him in 2023. After generating hundreds of millions of views online, earning co-signs from the likes of Trippie Redd and Kodak Black, and landing a deal with Mercury Records, he merges grainy lo-fi and emotionally-electrified R&B through a deliberate handcrafted approach on a series of 2023 singles and much more to come.