Rising R&B Singer Giveon Makes Pain Sound Beautiful
When Drake dropped off his Dark Lanes Demo Tapes mixtape in March, the project came with some surprises. Most notably, embedded on the release was his long-rumored collaboration with Playboi Carti, “Pain 1993.” But it was the tape’s third track, “Chicago Freestyle” that quickly became a favorite amongst fans. It simultaneously introduced them to the hidden gem that is rising California singer-songwriter Giveon.
Heralded as one of contemporary R&B’s most promising upcomers, the Long Beach native’s 2019 single, “LIKE I WANT YOU” put him on the map and he’s been on a steady rise since. Particularly, listeners find themselves entranced by his distinctly rich baritone. However, Giveon didn’t fully appreciate his vocal gift until he stumbled upon Frank Sinatra’s music.
“I did a program at the Grammy Museum in downtown [Los Angeles]. They heard my tone and told me to look up a song called ‘Fly Me To The Moon. That was my first time hearing a baritone singer and I was excited,” the 25-year-old told BET Digital. “That was a life-changing moment for me because now I embrace my tone instead of trying to conform and sound more like traditional singers.”
Most recently, Giveon released his new EP, Take Time, in March. On BET Digital’s latest installment of 106&Park Mic Check, he shared the inspiration behind a number of the project’s tracks and making “pain sound beautiful.” Giveon also touched on his first heartbreak experience, the meaning behind his name, and collabing with Frank Ocean.
Get anquited with the rising star below.
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