September 6, 2023

Deney Adam’s “Red Lights” EP Is A Unique Fusion of R&B-Pop and Resilience

In a world of constantly evolving music genres, Deney Adam is a name to remember. The Brooklyn-based West Indian R&B-pop artist is making waves with his debut EP, “Red Lights,” out now. This EP is a masterpiece of emotion, resilience, and self-discovery, and it’s infused with a distinctive blend of R&B and pop that sets Deney apart from the crowd.

 

One of the standout tracks on “Red Lights” is “No Reward,” a song that’s brimming with confidence and celebrates the fruits of hard work. Deney draws inspiration from his own experiences to create music that resonates with listeners. In an interview with Contrast Magazine, he explained how his journey as a celebrity makeup artist prepared him for his music career, teaching him the importance of the visual aspect of his work.

 

Deney’s West Indian heritage also plays a significant role in shaping his musical style. While he grew up listening to American music, he recently rediscovered the beauty of world music, infusing “No Reward” with a Calypso vibe that adds a unique twist to his sound.

 

The impact of 2020 was felt by many, and Deney was no exception. The pandemic prompted him to reevaluate his life goals, leading him to create music that goes beyond the club scene. His music serves as a cathartic outlet for him, as he strives to touch people’s lives with his songs, irrespective of the occasion.

Photographer is Hope Glassel. Styled by Mateo Palacio.

Deney’s fusion of futuristic R&B and pop is truly something to behold. His music combines hard-hitting beats with a softer voice and a love for R&B, resulting in a blend of emotional vulnerability and energetic rhythms that captivate listeners.

His musical influences are a diverse mix, ranging from legends like Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson to contemporary artists such as Banks, Sevdaliza, and Melanie Martinez. Deney’s ability to draw inspiration from these greats while putting his own unique spin on his music showcases his artistic depth and creativity.

Deney’s early experiences in church music have also left a lasting impact on his approach to making music. He views music as a cathartic release, a sanctuary where people can shed their pain and anxieties. This perspective is evident in his work, where he aims to inspire listeners to release whatever is clouding their minds.

“Red Lights” isn’t just an EP; it’s Deney’s release from the past. It’s a reflection of his journey through hardships, including homelessness, death, drugs, and toxic relationships, all within a five-year period. Through music, he has transformed this pain into something beautiful and powerful, and he hopes that his listeners will find a similar light at the end of their own tunnels.

In a world where artists often specialize in one aspect of their craft, Deney Adam stands out as a visual artist just as much as a musician. He believes in the importance of creating a visual world that complements his music, telling stories that resonate with a wide audience.

Deney Adam is not just an artist but a storyteller, weaving his personal experiences and cultural heritage into a rich tapestry of sound. “Red Lights” is more than an EP; it’s a journey through emotion, a celebration of hard work, and a testament to the power of music as a means of healing and self-discovery. As Deney continues to evolve and redefine the boundaries of R&B-pop, we can’t wait to see where his musical journey takes him next.

Photographer is Hope Glassel. Styled by Mateo Palacio.
Photographer is Hope Glassel. Styled by Mateo Palacio.

Catch our full interview with Deney Adam below.

 

You infused “No Reward” with a Calypso vibe. Can you share how your West Indian heritage has influenced your musical style and this track?

I moved here when I was young so grew up listening to American music lots of R&B /pop and gospel was always playing in the background at home Mariah, Whitney and Michael reign supreme rightfully so lol, the culture was always there of of course but Musically growing up it was not really a thing for me at least But now I’m rediscovering the beauty of different types of other worldly types of music, it’s really Fascinating to me

 

“No Reward” is a track about confidence and celebrating hard work. How have your past experiences contributed to the creation of this song? I became an artist to have a space to put all of my grief and self-doubt. It’s a wonderful outlet but I got to a point where I was like…”OK we gotta mix it up. I’m too depressed staying here in this place.” I hadn’t yet made a song where I could flex and proclaim how hard I’ve worked to get to this place. “No Reward” was the key to remind me “you can have fun too!”

 

After becoming a celebrity makeup artist, you dived fully into music. How has your experience in cosmetics prepared you to be an artist? Makeup saved my life when I needed so badly to support myself. I’m lucky that my day job is something that’s still creative and connected to the industry. But music has always been part of my life and what I’ve always wanted to do. I think makeup–and especially doing makeup for celebrities and fashion shows–helped me understand how to create the visual aspect of my music. For me, the visual language is just as important as the song itself. I’m able to take that pain and make it beautiful. 

 

You’ve mentioned channeling Cardi B’s confidence when creating “No Reward.” How did this sentiment influence the sound, lyrics, and overall mood of the track? It was a necessity at that point for me to pull myself out of the more emotional songs we were working on. It was time to let out my cockiness and just vibe out, proclaiming all the things I’m good at. I think what ultimately comes across is the fun and joy, that was our guiding light in the studio that day.

Your music career took a significant turn in 2020. How did this shift in focus impact the creative process and the outcome of “No Reward?” 2020 did a number on all of us–good and bad. I had to really sit down with myself and do a deep dive on what I really want in this life. I was accustomed to making house music pre-pandemic but then something shifted and I had all these emotions and traumatic experiences come to the surface. I wanted to make music that touched people, for whatever the occasion, not just the club. But there’s some fun club songs on the EP too. I’ll always want to make people dance. 

 

How would you describe your unique fusion of futuristic R&B and pop? I’ve always gravitated toward hard hitting beats and sounds, music that really gets your heart pumping. But having a softer voice and a love of R&B, I like marrying the two to make a unique fusion of emotional vulnerability, married with a hard beat. 

 

Can you name some of your musical influences? My influences begin with the greats like Mariah and Michael Jackson. I loved Justin Timberlake as a kid too. But as I came into adulthood, artists like Banks, Sevdaliza, Melanie Martinez really spoke to me and showed me this new way of what pop could be. I try to take what I’ve learned from the greats and subvert in my own way. I feel best marrying classic R&B with the underground. 

 

How did your early experiences in church music shape your approach to making music now? I think church music is ultimately meant to be cathartic. You’re gathered in a space to worship but really it becomes a sanctuary to release all the pain and anxieties of life. That’s certainly a big part of what I try to do with my own music, and hopefully inspire people to release all that’s clouding their mind.

 

Could you elaborate on what you mean by your debut EP “Red Lights” being your “release of the past?” Red Lights closes a chapter of my life that has shaped who I am today–but the journey was devastatingly difficult. I dealt with homelessness, death, drugs, and a toxic relationship, all within a 5-year period. When you’re living in it, you’re not thinking about it…but looking back and expressing everything I experienced through music has helped me to be so proud of myself and see how far I’ve come. Turning this pain into music has made it all worth it. I want listeners to know there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. 

 

The definition of Contrast is “to be strikingly different.” What makes you strikingly different? I’m not sure if this makes me strikingly different–I have a hard time being cocky in any way despite the message of “No Reward”– but I take great pride in being as much of a visual artist as I am a musician. I see the world I want to create as I’m working on sounds and melodies, and co-writing lyrics. As a pop artist, it’s just as important to tell the story visually, and as an R&B artist, it’s just as important to convey a story anyone can relate to.

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Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Contrast Magazine. michael@contrastmag.us

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