Destin Conrad Connects Jamaican Roots With a More Confident Creative Identity
Destin Conrad’s creative range begins at home. In an October 1st interview with The FADER, the singer discusses how his Jamaican upbringing, R&B influences and growing confidence fit together as he defines his own artistic identity.
Conrad tells interviewer Kylah Williams that his mother raised him in Florida after moving from Jamaica. Her listening included Beres Hammond and Luther Vandross, while his sister introduced him to artists such as Aaliyah and Usher. He describes those sounds as connected parts of his background.
The conversation also addresses making space for himself as a queer Caribbean artist. Conrad says community helped him become more open in his self-expression, and that responses from other queer Caribbean listeners have reinforced his decision to be himself.
He remains candid about performance. After making his first EP during the pandemic, he began playing those songs while opening for Syd. He describes those early shows as nerve-racking and says developing as a performer remains an ongoing process.
His catalog provides another way to follow that development. Apple Music lists COLORWAY in 2021, SATIN in 2022, SUBMISSIVE2 in 2024 and LOVE ON DIGITAL in 2025. Its ROADRUNNER listing dates the reggae project to August 21st, 2026, with 13 songs running approximately 30 minutes. That release is already available; this story revisits the artist’s explanation of the choices behind it.
Apple Music’s editorial notes point to “NO MORE” as a meeting of reggae rhythms and R&B delivery. The catalog also places his jazz exploration, wHIMSY, alongside those records, illustrating the different musical settings his voice has occupied.
For listeners, the interview offers a useful companion to the catalog: family history, public identity and stagecraft each provide a different perspective on an artist’s growth. Read the full conversation at The FADER and explore ROADRUNNER on Apple Music.
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