— Rising singer-songwriter and artist Bren Joy unveils his highly-anticipated debut album SUNSET BLACK, ahead of his 9-city tour via STEM.
The long-awaited introspective debut dives headfirst into the complexities of love, life, and self-discovery. Across twelve tracks, Bren showcases his versatility, effortlessly transcending genres while refining his sense of self and musicianship.
SUNSET BLACK marks the culmination of Bren Joy’s recent releases, including “WANDERING”, “NEVER WANNA LET YOU GO”, “COUTURE”, and the newly released focus track “EL DORADO”. Its accompanying visualizer weaves fan-submitted memories with Bren’s own footage, creating a heartfelt tribute to family, connection, and reflection. The album weaves together influences from folk, hip-hop, Amapiano, pop, and jazz, blending seamlessly with powerful lyricism, striking vocals, and instrumentation rooted in the East Coast sound. Through an alt-R&B lens, Bren distills these elements into a cohesive, captivating, and immersive project.
The album features collaborations with Sam Barsh (Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar), Austin Brown (Doechii, SZA, Isaiah Rashad), Michael Brun (J Balvin, Victoria Monae, Ed Sheeran), Bartees Strange (Phoebe Bridgers, Paramore), and Zach Ezzy (Smino, Lil Yachty, Jordan Ward), all contributing to a unique sound that sets Bren Joy apart from his peers.
“For three years, I chased the perfect sound and business model, only to lose the plot along the way. Creating SUNSET BLACK has healed me in ways I can’t put into words, and I hope it resonates with you as much as it does with me. ‘SUNSET BLACK’ is an oxymoron — a blend of genres and contradictions. It’s a reflection of my hometown, my culture, and the art that shaped me. To everyone involved in this project, I’m endlessly grateful. This album is one of the most impressive pieces of art I’ve ever heard — biased, but true. In short, this is my love letter to alternative R&B.” — Bren Joy
Following the album’s release, Bren will embark on a North American headline tour. The Sunset Black Tour will kick off in San Francisco on March 17 and will make stops in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Nashville, New York, Toronto, and more before wrapping in Chicago on April 3. This tour promises to showcase Bren’s dynamic stage presence and vocal prowess, further cementing his status as a compelling and exciting new voice in contemporary R&B.
Much of SUNSET BLACK was written during Bren Joy’s three-year hiatus and his move from his hometown of Nashville to Los Angeles, serving as a way to process his evolving identity and personal experiences. Showcasing his growth as both an artist and songwriter, the album embraces raw, unpolished vocal takes adding to its authenticity. A natural storyteller and world-builder, Bren crafts immersive narratives that explore themes of self-discovery, fluidity, expression, selfishness, growth, love, heartbreak, and creativity.
Bren Joy first gained widespread recognition with his breakout singles “Henny in the Hamptons” and “Sweet”. His 2019 debut project TWENTIES struck a chord with listeners and was featured in Office, Flaunt, Billboard, PAPER, and more, amassing over 268 million global streams. He has since collaborated and shared the stage with Megan Thee Stallion, Denzel Curry, Pink Sweat$, Jhené Aiko, Gemini, and more.
With his debut album SUNSET BLACK out now and a headline tour on the horizon, Bren Joy is entering an exciting new chapter as a career artist.