With wHIMSY!, DESTIN CONRAD undergoes a striking sonic metamorphosis, trading the polished digital sheen of his earlier R&B for the raw, organic warmth of live instrumentation and alternative jazz. Recorded during an intensive two-week session in Los Angeles under the creative direction of Mr. E, the album captures the whims of intimacy through a lens that feels less like a studio product and more like a live set in a late-night lounge. By prioritising space and improvisation over rigid structures, Destin positions himself as a maestro of emotion, navigating the messy, beautiful stages of a relationship with a newfound sense of vulnerability. The project’s brilliance lies in its seamless fusion of traditional jazz foundations with contemporary soul storytelling. This synergy is immediate on the opening track wHIP, where Keyon Harrold’s trumpet engages in a sultry call-and-response with Destin’s vocals, a dynamic that carries through to the Terrace Martin-assisted wASH U AWAY. Between these high-level collaborations, the album breathes through intentional moments of reflection, such as the spoken-word beauty of GLORY a poem by Bay Davis and the atmospheric AMBRÈ’S INTERLUDE BUT JAZZ, ensuring the listener remains fully immersed in the record’s cinematic, noir-tinged atmosphere. The guest list on wHIMSY! further solidifies its status as a high-art collective effort, featuring contributions that push Destin into new creative pockets. From the vocal interplay with Vanisha Gould on BOREDOM and A Lonely Detective to the harmonic mastery of James Fauntleroy and Astyn Turr on The W, the album is populated by musical architects who understand the whimsical vision. Closing with the raw honesty of HARD! and the high-energy finale LALALALA, DESTIN CONRAD proves he is more than an R&B singer. He is a world-builder who can romanticise the mundane until it feels like a classic film. Available as a single LP housed in a gatefold jacket and pressed on translucent emerald and gold A-side/B-side vinyl.
