Destin Conrad is in a romantic relationship with London. The 24-year-old R&B singer and songwriter from Tampa mentions that his astrocartography lines pass through the city, and he feels good here “even when the weather is terrible.” For those of us in London, such a positive outlook is invaluable, and it’s a standout trait of Conrad's. Ironically, we are speaking on the hottest day of the year.
Since he launched his first EP ‘COLORWAY’ during the pandemic in 2021, Conrad has emerged as a new face in R&B and the broader music scene. With the recent release of his debut album ‘LOVE ON DIGITAL’ following four EPs, he’s just getting started. The album is both introspective and self-aware, as it articulates his vulnerabilities while remaining playful and resonating with an expanding fanbase.
Growing up in Tampa, Conrad is part of the “Florida renaissance,” spearheaded by Doechii and featuring fellow R&B artist SAILORR from Jacksonville. He points out that many forget Florida is part of the South, noting its distinctly Southern and country essence, which he believes adds to its uniqueness. After residing in LA and now Brooklyn, Conrad appears to have no difficulty feeling at home no matter where he is based. Although he doesn’t live in London, he has chosen to promote the album prominently here, even performing ‘KISSING IN PUBLIC’ for the first time on a DJ AG stream.
Conrad has consistently collaborated with UK artist Sasha Keable both as a writer and featured artist, along with notable and emerging artist CARI, making him well-acquainted with UK R&B. He observes that UK R&B is making significant strides in the American scene and expresses excitement at the potential for UK artists to break into the US. He attributes the “niche taste” of UK audiences to a more intriguing sound, citing a recent interview with Usher where he mentions that only UK fans are familiar with the song ‘Pop Ya Collar’—a favorite among Brits, but unknown to many Americans, including Conrad, who remarked, “I never heard that song a day in my life. ‘Pop Ya Collar’? Like, what?” He acknowledges the difference in music discovery between UK and US radio, recalling how he stumbled upon a song while heavily intoxicated in an Uber, where he was Shazaming.
As an openly queer R&B artist, Conrad is already challenging the traditional norms of a genre that has typically been heteronormative, connecting with a diverse array of fans on various levels. “I’m literally singing about men, and it’s really cool when a straight man can recognize that my music is good and they’re not put off by me singing about boys.” Not only does Conrad write about male romantic relationships, but he also features male love interests in his music videos, which remains relatively uncommon. “I’m just excited to push it and make people even more uncomfortable and see what other queer, gay, male R&B artists come after me.”
His ambition and determination shine through as he reflects on the creation of the album and its promotional efforts. Although this release is through Empire, Conrad was previously an independent artist with limited resources. “I’m just excited to keep promoting it and discovering new ways to do that.” While many of his peers might shy away from interviews, events, and parties, Conrad embraces them enthusiastically.
Discussing the album itself, Conrad expresses, “Everything about it feels completely different from all my other projects.” A key reason for this is the impressive talent he collaborated with on writing and production. The writing credits include individuals like Mack Keane, Sasha Keable, and Louie Lastic, his longtime producer. “It’s been interesting having a lot of people in the room; that’s been different… But I’m used to it now. This album has pushed me to work with more writers and producers, involving more contributions.”
One of the standout tracks is ‘THE LAST TIME,’ featuring Teezo Touchdown. It showcases a beautiful exchange with Teezo’s signature gospel sound, examining the relatable situation of resisting giving someone another chance. The story behind their collaboration is equally heartfelt. As a big fan of Teezo, Conrad had been in touch with the artist before a chance encounter with his manager, Amal, sparked their collaboration. “He was the easiest person to work with, and we’ve been discussing getting together more to write… He’s a genuinely great guy, the sweetest. I’m his biggest fan.” It’s a rare opportunity to collaborate with an artist you admire while creating art together.
Additionally, Conrad collaborated with Kehlani on ‘BAD BITCHES.’ Having worked together for years on both released and unreleased tracks, this partnership felt very natural. “She’s literally my sister, so it’s very easy and almost muscle memory. I’m thrilled we got to make this one because it’s a lot of fun.”
With a runtime of 37 minutes
SASAMI's third album, ‘Blood on the Silver Screen’, represents not only a shift towards pop but also a new phase in her constantly evolving, intuition-driven path as an artist who allows her music to lead her wherever it desires.
The IMS Business Report 2025 has identified several opportunities for growth within club culture and electronic music. The yearly conference and showcase made a comeback to
With their remarkable achievements and chart-topping success, Sleep Token evokes a sense of mystique, making it challenging to identify pressing items for their bucket list, given their significant accolades.
Jacqui has released her newest single ‘fries, bb’ through Beeline Records. Inspired by her initial explorations in neo-soul, the emerging artist characterizes her production style.
Footsie and Strategy have collaborated on a new release titled 'Theatre Of Dreams'. The substantial 10-track album is now available and was introduced during an appearance on Spyro's 1Xtra show.
Chinese-American techno musician HELANG presents a carefully selected playlist that includes Qrion, Maria Vaunt, Sohmi, Hiroko Yamamura, and others for Atwood Magazine's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month series!
Destin Conrad is romantically involved with London. The 24-year-old R&B singer and songwriter from Tampa mentions that his astrocartography lines intersect with the city.