BRIEL the Artist is a Black American singer-songwriter from the Bronx, New York, whose journey into music began at the age of sixteen. Surrounded by the dynamic rhythms of R&B, Hip-Hop, and Pop that echoed through his community, BRIEL found himself drawn not just to the sounds, but to the soul behind them. It was the emotional rawness of modern R&B that first captivated him, a style that didn’t just entertain, but revealed. This deep connection to truth-telling through music became the bedrock of BRIEL’s artistic identity. As a gay Black man, BRIEL’s perspective is one often marginalized or misunderstood in the mainstream music industry, but rather than dilute his story, he leaned into it. His songs explore the nuanced intersections of identity, love, faith, and emotional survival in a world that frequently imposes silence. Through a style that refuses to conform to genre limitations, BRIEL weaves vulnerability into every note, creating music that is not only heard but deeply felt.
His dedication to authenticity and emotional craftsmanship has already earned him praise for performances at landmark venues like the Apollo Theater and the Brooklyn Museum, where his voice commanded attention not through spectacle, but through sheer sincerity. In the winter and spring seasons of 2025, BRIEL the Artist headlined his own concert series, The Coming of the Year Sessions, a curated journey through his evolving artistry. These performances were not just musical showcases but intimate experiences, inviting audiences into a space of honesty, transformation, and deep connection. With each song, BRIEL redefined what it means to take up space as both an artist and a human being with something vital to say. Now, with his debut mixtape on the horizon, he takes that mission further, this time in recorded form, and without apology.
On June 25, 2025, BRIEL the Artist released his debut mixtape, DAMN GENESIS, a fearless, emotionally charged body of work that signals both the end of who he was told to be and the beginning of who he truly is. More than just a collection of songs, DAMN GENESIS is a personal reckoning, a sonically rich, soul-baring account of heartbreak, spiritual awakening, identity conflict, and radical self-acceptance. It marks the arrival of an artist who is not merely making music, but reclaiming himself through it. The title itself is a powerful declaration: DAMN speaks to the burning away of fear, guilt, and externally imposed limitations; GENESIS represents the sacred rebirth that follows, the intentional creation of a self-defined life. Across this emotionally expansive mixtape, BRIEL blends Alternative R&B, Hip-Hop, and Indie influences to carve a soundscape that is as fluid as it is focused. He doesn’t just express emotion, he curates it, layering sonic textures and lyrical clarity to create immersive worlds with each track.
DAMN GENESIS Mixtape Track List:
THE BLINDS:
THE BLINDS by BRIEL the Artist opens the DAMN GENESIS mixtape with an eerie calmness that instantly sets a mood of introspection. The track begins with minimalist percussion and a hazy bed of ambient textures that feel spacious yet emotionally close, almost like walking through a memory that hasn’t fully faded. There’s a noticeable stillness in the opening seconds, no rush, no dramatic entrance, just a gentle immersion into BRIEL’s inner world. His voice enters with quiet restraint, breathy and conversational, as though he’s thinking out loud rather than performing. From the first few lines, you’re pulled into a space that’s deeply personal and emotionally clouded, mirroring the theme of infatuation and mental overanalysis the song grapples with. The track doesn’t just start, it breathes itself into existence, inviting the listener into a contemplative headspace.
As the song develops, the instrumentation remains subtle but carefully layered. Soft synths, ambient swells, and lo-fi textures move beneath BRIEL’s vocals like emotional undercurrents, creating a sonic landscape that is both hypnotic and fluid. There’s a seamless marriage between the voice and production, the way his harmonies float over the beat feels effortless yet intentional. Nothing in the mix feels overdone. Instead, there’s a delicate balance between space and presence, allowing every sonic element to contribute to the emotional tone. The vocal performance never strains for attention, it rides the wave of the instrumental, drifting between lead lines and background harmonies in a way that echoes the uncertainty and hesitation the lyrics suggest. It’s this gentle, almost passive interaction between sound and voice that gives THE BLINDS its power. You don’t just hear the song, you sink into it.
The overall vibe is hauntingly melancholic, yet stunningly polished. The production quality is high, with crystal clarity in the mix and a keen sense of atmosphere that fills the room without ever feeling heavy. There’s a richness to the sonic choices: slight reverb tails, distant pads, and muted drum loops that all work together to support BRIEL’s introspective delivery. From start to finish, THE BLINDS creates a world of its own, moody, immersive, and emotionally raw. It feels like the quiet after a storm, where thoughts settle but feelings still linger. It’s a brilliant way to open DAMN GENESIS, not just introducing a project, but embodying the very essence of what BRIEL stands for: vulnerability, intentional artistry, and sonic storytelling that’s as emotional as it is beautiful.
CHEQUE:
BRIEL the Artist opens CHEQUE with a worn-out rhythm that immediately mirrors the emotional weight carried in the song. The percussion is dry and measured, almost hollow, creating a repetitive loop that reflects the monotony and exhaustion of grinding just to survive. Beneath it, ambient textures flicker in and out, giving the track an atmospheric depth that feels like the echo of late nights and restless thoughts. There’s a subdued bassline that subtly anchors the beat, but it never tries to dominate. Instead, it creates a space that allows the listener to feel the pressure of chasing stability. From the moment the track starts, there’s a mood of internal tension, the kind that lingers after too many days of doing too much with too little. The vibe is stripped down but heavy, capturing the essence of burnout in its sonic design.
BRIEL’s vocal performance on CHEQUE is deliberately restrained, yet emotionally loaded. He doesn’t come in loud or flashy, his tone is direct, steady, and reflective, as if venting without expecting answers. His cadence flows naturally with the beat, never racing ahead but also never dragging behind. There’s a tightness to the way his voice hugs the rhythm, giving the impression of someone barely holding it together. In moments, his voice dips into a deeper emotional pocket, where the weight of unspoken fatigue and disappointment becomes most clear. The vocal layering in the background adds texture without crowding the main delivery, acting almost like lingering thoughts or internal commentary. It’s an intelligent use of space and harmony that adds emotional layers without compromising the track’s minimalism.
What makes CHEQUE so effective is the way everything works together to create an immersive feeling of pressure and quiet desperation. The clean production ensures every element, from the lo-fi hiss to the precise vocal delivery, sits exactly where it should. There’s no clutter, yet the atmosphere feels full because of how emotionally loaded each sound is. The song doesn’t need to shout to be powerful. It captures a lived reality with subtlety and finesse. By the end of the track, you don’t just understand the exhaustion BRIEL is expressing, you feel it in your bones. CHEQUE is not just a song about financial stress or emotional burnout. It’s a mood piece, a sonic embodiment of modern survival. Every second feels intentional, and the overall performance is a quiet, high-quality triumph.
SITUATIONSHIP:
SITUATIONSHIP by BRIEL the Artist begins with an understated yet emotionally taut groove, a stripped-back beat that lets tension hang in the air from the first moments. Light percussion, a subdued bass pulse, and flickering synth accents form a sonic frame of unresolved longing. The atmosphere feels charged with internal conflict, are you in love or caught in a holding pattern? BRIEL’s vocal entries reinforce this tension: his breathy, close-mic delivery conveys uncertainty and weariness, while subtle doubling in the chorus layers a sense of internal dialogue or echoing doubts. As the track unfolds, the instrumentation grows just enough, soft pads and distant melodic plucks creep in, accentuating the emotional stakes without pulling focus, reinforcing the idea of emotional limbo and unreadiness to fully commit.
Vocally, BRIEL strikes a measured balance between vulnerability and subtle assertion. His cadence is pointed and reflective, not dramatic, matching the lyrical theme about the instability of undefined romance. Midway through the song, his voice subtly gains presence and edge, aligning with the internal clarity he seeks. Minimalist backing vocals add harmonic texture, but always beneath the lead, creating depth without distracting. Production-wise, the mix feels open and precise: subtle reverb, strategic panning, and well-defined low end give space for every nuance, from a whispered syllable to the ghost of a synth note. The result is a cohesive sonic portrait of emotional tension and self-awareness, engaging, somber, and distinctly high quality, where you can feel both the hesitation and the self-protective armor in BRIEL’s performance.
LADIES SONG:
LADIES SONG opens with a warm, buoyant groove that immediately shifts the listener into a space of celebration and empowerment. The percussion clicks into place with clarity, anchored by a smooth bass pulse and sprinkled melodic accents that nod to New Jack Swing yet feel wholly modern and soulful . BRIEL’s vocal delivery lands with affectionate conviction, sweeping listeners into an anthem of self worth that is both personal and communal. Soft pads and understated keys fill the background, creating breezy texture without crowding the space. From the first measure the song feels alive with purposeful rhythm and listeners can sense Briel inviting someone into a moment of uplift and emotional restoration.
Vocally, BRIEL layers harmonies and doubling throughout the chorus and verses, creating a rich tapestry of supportive voices that amplify the song’s message of solidarity and inner strength. These vocal layers never overshadow the lead, they enhance it, wrapping around his smooth tone like warmth from friends surrounding a sister in need. As the track progresses, the background vocals swell softly at key emotional moments, reinforcing lines about recognizing worth, stepping away from toxicity, and celebrating women’s strength. The production is crisp and spacious, allowing each vocal layer, percussive snap, and synth accent to sit in its own sonic position, contributing to an atmosphere that feels polished and intentional. The result is an immersive anthem, high quality in every element, that resonates emotionally while encouraging movement and empowerment.
Damn Genesis pulses with emotional rhythm, melding vulnerability, identity, and rebirth into a sonic journey that burns away the past and rebuilds truth through fearless, genre-blending expression.
DAMN GENESIS is a powerful, emotionally charged debut that positions BRIEL the Artist as a bold and necessary voice in modern music. With a sound that effortlessly blends Alternative R&B, Hip-Hop, and Indie influences, this mixtape delivers more than just genre, it delivers truth. Each track is a reflection of lived experience, shaped by BRIEL’s identity as a gay Black man navigating love, faith, exhaustion, and the radical act of self-acceptance. From the haunting introspection of THE BLINDS to the quiet ache of CHEQUE, and the soulful empowerment of LADIES SONG, every moment feels intentional, vulnerable, and sonically rich. The production is polished yet spacious, giving each lyric room to breathe and resonate. What sets DAMN GENESIS apart is not just its technical finesse, but its emotional honesty and thematic cohesion. This is a project for those who crave music that speaks directly to the complexities of identity and growth. Highly recommended, this mixtape isn’t just heard, it’s experienced, felt, and remembered long after the final note fades.
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