Haunting lyricist Bryant Barnes’s ‘I’d Rather Pretend’ has transformed in more ways than one. What started as a TikTok with his parents casually hanging out in the background while his fingers ghosted over ivory keys now morphed into a celestial soundscape, bouncing off minimalist alcoves as if we were floating alongside the apparatus itself. It’s no wonder he’s got his listeners hookedᅳand now, even Vevo, the renowned music network, has coined him as an “Artist to Watch” for their DSCVR ATW program.
Sound familiar? It should. Your fave has probably earned the title in the past. He was crooning one minute, rattling off witty one-liners the next, forever humorously blurring the lines between singer-songwriter and stand-up comedianᅳremember when Lewis Capaldi snagged it in 2018? And don’t get us started on Billie Eilish, whose effortlessly cool ‘my boy’ winning performance still has us trying to copy her swag. So, yeah, if you’re trying to shapeshift yourself into the next superstar, and with over 600 hopefuls gunning for the same spot, this is exactly how it’s done.
Every year, in celebration of Vevo’s Artist to Watch list, we award one stand-out artist the title of Vevo’s “DSCVR Artist of the Year.” They should embody everything about a successful DSCVR Artist to Watch: drive, stage presence, personality, a kaleidoscopic artistic vision, a sound that is distinctly their own, and (perhaps most importantly) a special and undeniable connection with a global audience.
JP Evangelista, SVP, Content, Programming & Marketing, Vevo, in a press release
On both ends of the growth spectrum, Bryant was a magnet to his piano in the track that kicked everything off ‘I’d Rather Pretend’ and untangled himself from it in his recent single ‘Is This Love To You.’ While his soft-spoken, velvet vocalsᅳthose that practically drip like honeyᅳrightfully tug at our heartstrings, the stunning play of rainbow-colored lighting, executed by gaffer Elliott Travis, pulls its weight, too. Let’s break down the color choices of each live performance and get all red-stringboard-theory on the symbolic details.
‘I’d Rather Pretend’
Carefully treading up to love can feel like we’re inching toward a lion’s mouth, never quite sure if we’ll get to sweep our fingers over its fur like Mowgli from The Jungle Book or if it’ll swallow us whole. Bryant’s ‘I’d Rather Pretend’ is the soundtrack to this flight response, locking his feelings away. The performance spends most of its time in a grey hazeᅳit’s the color of uncertaintyᅳwith fleeting glimmers of bright white light, perhaps the hope of steadfast love finally choosing us. But just as quickly, that hope fades, melting into a harsh blue, dragging us away from Bryant and down the hallways. It’s not the kind of blue that hints at trust, but rather the sadness of never letting someone truly in.
‘Is This Love To You’
I appreciate the opportunity of being on VEVO’s DSCVR Artists To Watch list. It’s an honor to be chosen and perform on the same stage as the many great artists who have come before me. Thank you all for listening.
Bryant Barnes in a press release
We have a habit of trailing; just as the camera ushers us out of the room, the colors follow suit like an unruly conga line. Case in point: the uninvited partygoer—the blue from the ‘I’d Rather Pretend’ performance—crashes ‘Is This Love To You.’ It starts mingling with dark pinks and bursts of orange. Usually, sunset shades like these would be all about cozy couch cuddles and D&M sessions.
Yet Bryant pleads to know if the muse even loves him after the tirade of betrayals. It’s more about a longing for how their relationship should’ve been. There’s still hope inside of him that maybe their passion could be salvaged, and the burnt orange adds to the impatience and fiery energy of wanting that change to happen. However, that’s impossible now, as the blue from before keeps creeping in, bringing in the unfair reminder that there’s no chance of a rewind.
Having interviewed Bryant earlier this year, we’re beyond excited for Vevo to honor him! It’s always hard to pick a favorite, but which performance is stealing the show for you? Hit us up on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and cast your vote!
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