Nashville R&B singer Bren Joy continues his excellent series of live performances with a passionate cover of The Weeknd’s “Call Out My Name.” The intimate video, which premiered on GRUNGECAKE, was filmed at EXIT/IN in the Warner Records artist’s hometown of Nashville and offers an all-new take on the 2018 song.
Bren’s vocals, confident and full of emotion, are front and center on this cover. His warm voice lifts the chill from the moody keys and strings as he cries, “And when shit was rough, when it was rough, I made sure I held you close to me.” In a heartbreaking performance, Bren fills the room with pleas while uniquely fusing the sounds of gospel, pop, and R&B.
“Call Out My Name” is the first cover in Bren’s live recording series. In the last two months, he’s released touching performances of his singles “Henny in the Hamptons” and “Drag Race,” from his debut EP, Twenties, as well as one of his latest tracks, “Freezing.” In 2019, “Henny in the Hamptons” received praise from Vulture, ending up on its “Songs of the Week” list because of its “silky, sweet positive energy.”
After being named one of The Tennessean’s “Nashville artists to watch in 2020,” Bren hasn’t let his foot off the gas. Having opened for artists like Jhené Aiko and Megan Thee Stallion, he’s no stranger to bright lights, big stages, and screaming crowds. It’s only a matter of time before those crowds are filled with Bren Joy fans.
