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Brent Faiyaz, Poised for R&B Grammy Nods, on the Importance of Staying Indie and Why Tarantino Is His Muse
Alex Gonzalez Since its July release, “Wasteland,” Brent Faiyaz’s dark, introspective R&B album, has been one of this year’s more polarizing releases. Some have criticized the disc’s length and skits, while others have praised its honesty and cohesive narrative. In 2017, Faiyaz’s debut album, “Sonder Son,” announced a major new voice in R&B, and “Wasteland” seals that initial hype. As an independent artist, Faiyaz is one of the genre’s buzziest artists, with his album reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart despite its independent release via Lost Kids, Venice Music and Stem Disintermedia. He’s also tipped to pull in several Grammy nominations this year. You recorded “Wasteland” during COVID and during a time of political unrest. Since then, how would you say you have spent time healing?
