A mood is created in “Icon” by Brent Faiyaz, eliminating the fact that it is just an album. It’s the soundtrack you play while cruising around town, allowing the wind to intertwine with your hair as you watch the sky be filled with gradient colors. Brent Fiayaz is known for his soulful, introspective R&B, but, when you first hear the album, it catches you off guard. It takes you into a whole new atmosphere, you find a different level of artistry Fiayaz has mastered. This album has held onto my attention since I first hit play. These are three songs that highlight its strengths.
“butterflies” (his song titles are uncapitalized) delicately uncovers layers of emotion verse by verse. It perfectly catches that very familiar feeling of butterflies fluttering in your stomach. The soft instrumentation and lyrics sync with your heart, permitting you to enjoy every second of it. The track emphasizes the character development of Brent Fiayaz. Fans are used to hearing a toxic and hurt man in Faiyaz lines, but in “butterflies,” his inner lover boy is revealed. All the elements and components that are present in this song is why it earns an infinity out of 10. It’s the one that makes “Icon” a must listen to album.
Right after, “other side” is on, and I was not ready for it at all. It takes you back to Micheal Jackson’s prime in the ‘90s (as if I know how that feels). It spotlights Brent Faiyaz’s dedication to artistic growth and variation. The production is crisp, the vocals are alluring, and the energy is present. The lines written by Faiyaz, “It’s you for me, first thing in the morning or late at night” makes it very clear that he has entered a new stage in his life. It’s a stage where he feels truly accepted by this girl to think about her 24/7, and allows her to help him release his genuine self. This song has a groove that makes you want to move, and mark my words, you’ll soon hear this song everywhere you go.
Towards the end of the album, “vanilla sky” plays. Throughout the entire song, one question is repeated, “What is happiness to you?” After each question, Brent Faiyaz asks a secondary question to help you answer. The part that makes this composition so beautiful is that Faiyaz ends it with a response: happiness comes clear to you. True joy isn’t something you look for but instead, it finds you. The track summarizes Faiyaz’s transformation from previous albums to now. I’m not positive, but this song may have been written just for Brent Faiyaz. He’s asking questions as his former self and now answering in the present. I agree though. True happiness won’t have your heart racing faster than you can compose your own thoughts. Happiness will be what is meant for you. “But what ain’t for you ain’t for you,” Faiyaz writes.
“Icon” is an intimate invitation into Brent Faiyaz’s mind. It’s a true journey through the introspectiveness in “butterflies,” to the optimistic beat in “other side,” and the subtle interrogation of “vanilla sky.” The music style differs in each and every single track, which makes this album unlike any other. It is the variation that earns “Icon” a 10 out of 10, setting Brent Faiyaz at the very top. Even if you’ve never liked one of Faiyaz’s soulful, introspective songs, you will find at least one track in this composition that will draw you in. That song will play as you cruise around town, allowing the wind to intertwine with your hair, while watching the sky be filled with gradient colors. And that, in itself, is beautiful.
