While working with Day26 to make a comeback, Brian Angel is also establishing himself as a solo artist. Toward the end of the summer, Angel dropped two singles — a party anthem called “Hunnid Dolla Bill” and a smooth track titled “Mrs. Parker.” Both tracks will appear on Angel’s debut album that’s slated to release early 2015.
Rated RnB caught up with Brian Angel for a very candid interview where he compares his artistry as a member of Day26 and a solo artist, talks about the inspiration behind his debut album “Daybreak” and more.
Check out the interview below.
How does Brian Angel, the member of Day26, compare to Brian Angel the solo artist?
[Laughs] Brian Angel of Day26 plays his role in Day26. Brian Angel, the solo artist, is kind of like the wild, untamed, say whatever the f*ck he want to say type guy. In the group, I’ve got to be kind of conservative — sort to speak — (laughs).
As far as creativity and music, do you believe you have to be more conservative as a member of a group?
Yeah. I’m the type of person who is very outspoken and I pretty much say whatever is on my mind. With Daybreak, people will get a feel for that. People will be like, “Damn. He’s not the cookie-cutter R&B guy that we thought he was.” With the group, you have four other guys’ opinions, thoughts and views, so of course we all got to come to some agreement to where we all feel like Day26 is and should be. I just do me. I’m known as the hothead in the group. I’m known as the wild guy. I’m pretty much doing me on Daybreak.
You have two singles out now. What made you release two singles simultaneously? Also, could you give us some insight about them?
I wanted to do something different. I felt like I owed it to the fans because I have been working on Daybreak for almost two years now and I felt like it was only right that I actually gave them an inside of what’s going on with Daybreak, which I’m almost finished with…
As far as how the songs came about, I remember one night I was watching Friday and I was drinking some wine…I live alone…I was a little tipsy (laughs). I remember calling my cousin Amir and I was like “Yo, I need a song like Ms. Parker.” He was like “What you mean”?” and I was like “The whole Ms. Parker theme” and he was like “Alright I got you.” No lie. He hit up my cousin Jay that night and the next day they sent over a skeleton of the song. I loved it. That’s how “Ms. Parker” came about.
With “Hunnid Dolla Bill,” it was another drunken night in the strip club. I was listening to the music and I’m like, “Okay. This is where music going. This is where music is at.” I got in the lab and cooked up something that was really, really hot. I reached out to Fat Pimp — he’s like a Texas legend. I sent it to him, the very next day he sent it back.
As you mentioned, you’ve been working on Daybreak for almost two years. What has the creative process been like over time? Did the creative direction ever change?
When I first started recording Daybreak, it was more about my personal life. At one point, I was married and I’m no longer married. It was pretty much about the breakup — the way I was feeling. It was almost like [Usher’s] Confessions (laughs). I kind of got over that. I went through the whole feeling bad about the breakup and feeling sad about everything that was going on. I had to put my big boy draws on (laughs) and I got over it. I started exploring more into of what Daybreak is now. Don’t get me wrong, some of those songs are making the album but it’s more of Brian Angel now and not what I was going through at that point in time. I definitely don’t want to dedicate an album to her (laughs).
Who are your musical influences and will we hear it on Daybreak?
Of course, Michael Jackson is the biggest influence. I like people like Donnie Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, K-Ci from K-Ci and Jo Jo — whenever they sing, you can actually feel what they are actually saying. You can almost close your eyes and feel their pain.
What do you hope people get from Daybreak? What type of feeling?
I want people to listen to Daybreak and be like “Damn! This motherf*cka put it all out there and he left it.” I want people to say “Damn, I love this album.”
When do you plan on dropping Daybreak?
Top of the year next year. I plan to drop two more singles next year. I’m excited.
Do you know what the singles will be?
I got a single called “That Girl.” It’s out of here. It’s on the moon, Jupiter, Mars! It’s crazy. I actually got a record called “Mars” too. It’s about my daughter. I’m really excited about this album.
What type of song is “That Girl”?
It’s up-tempo. Man, when you hear it. It’s festive!
What about “Mars”?
I don’t really get to see [my daughter] as much as I want to. It’s just saying “Even if I have to travel to Mars, I’ll do whatever it takes to get to your heart.” It’s really, really, really big. It sounds like I’m talking about a woman but I’m talking about my daughter.
Would you say that’s your most personal song on the album?
Definitely. That and a record called “Days.” Yo, I’m excited about this f*cking album, bruh!
Anything else you want to add?
I got my own label. I got so much going on but I can’t really speak on it right now but trust and believe you’ll be seeing a lot from Brian Angel in the future — from plays to movies to putting out my own artist. So, keep your eyes and ears peeled to the streets.
Follow Brian Angel on Twitter @MrAngel_Day26, Instagram: IAmBrianAngel and Facebook.com/IAmBrianAngel