Artists Like Brent Faiyaz

Build the Perfect Alternative R&B Playlist (Structure, Tempo, and Texture)

A reader‑friendly deep dive to help you discover new favorites without getting lost in algorithm loops.

Start with an anchor

Pick 2–3 anchor tracks—the songs everyone recognizes. These set the emotional key and tempo band. Around them, layer newer artists with complementary textures so the energy drifts rather than spikes.

Pay attention to the pocket—the micro‑timing of kicks and snares. Alt‑R&B often leans behind the grid to feel unhurried.

For headphones listening, prioritize songs with tasteful room noise, breaths, and finger squeaks—tiny details that make intimacy tangible.

Texture matters

Use contrast: after a synth‑heavy track, drop in something guitar‑led or piano‑forward. Keep drums minimal to maintain the late‑night feel, but switch the pocket so the set doesn’t blur.

A/B compare two masters: the one with less top‑end may feel warmer and closer, which suits late‑night sets.

Pacing tips

Sequence in arcs: slow build, nocturnal peak, soft landing. Aim for 45–70 minutes so the set invites a full listen without fatigue.

If you like soft falsetto leads, search for acoustic or live‑room versions; the vocal sits even closer and reveals phrasing.

Where to go next

Start your queue with one familiar anchor and two new names from this list. If a song grabs you, explore the entire EP—sequencing often tells the deeper story.

Share your finds with a friend who likes the same mood; two ears build better maps than one.

Editorial Team — Alt‑R&B discovery notes.

Published: • Updated:

Flow & pacing

Use 3‑song arcs: mood‑setter, deepen, release. Repeat this pattern twice for a 12‑track set that breathes.

If vocals sit center‑dry, follow with a track that uses delay throws to keep the ear engaged without killing the calm.

Keys to the palette

Minor 7ths, suspended chords, and soft detune give that nocturnal glow. Layer a tape‑soft pad behind a dry lead vocal to preserve intimacy.

A brushed hat pattern or rim clicks can replace bright cymbals; you keep movement while avoiding top‑end glare.

Deep listening notes

Focus on the space between hits—the late snare, the inhale before a line. Alt‑R&B feels intimate because producers leave room for micro‑details.

Solo the bass mentally on first listen. If the sub sits under 60Hz with gentle saturation, you’ll feel warmth without mud.

If you like X, try Y

If you like falsetto‑led hooks with minimalist drums, try Daniel Caesar → UMI → Omar Apollo in that order.

If you prefer baritone leads and piano beds, try Giveon → Zach Zoya → Gallant’s lower register cuts.

Starter playlist recipe

Open with a familiar anchor, drift into two slow‑burners, lift slightly with a feature verse, then end with an acoustic or live‑room cut.

Keep BPM within a ±8 window so transitions feel inevitable rather than forced.

Discovery tactics

Follow credits: when a mix hits you, click the engineer—engineers often carry a consistent sense of space across projects.

Search live session channels and tour openers; many future headliners test new ideas there first.

Key & tempo glue

Keep BPM in a 65–85 window, and favor relative keys or neighbors on the Camelot wheel to avoid jarring shifts without resorting to hard fades.

Texture swaps

Follow a sub‑heavy synth track with something guitar‑led; then return to pads with lighter drums to refresh the ear.

Keeping your Alt‑R&B playlist fresh without starting over

A simple maintenance routine can keep your favorite playlist feeling alive. Once a month, move a few songs you are skipping into a “bench” playlist, then add two or three new discoveries from recent releases or deeper cuts by artists already on the list. This preserves the mood while making room for growth.

Over time, that rotation becomes a snapshot of where your taste is right now rather than a static time capsule from the week you first built it.

Sharing your favorite finds with intention

When you send songs from your Alt-R&B playlist to friends, think about who will actually appreciate them. A single track sent to someone who already loves Brent-style writing might spark a full conversation, while blasting a link into a group chat can lead to the song getting skipped and forgotten.

Treating recommendations like personal invitations keeps the music feeling special instead of disposable.

Balancing deep cuts with familiar anchors

A strong Alt-R&B playlist usually balances comfort and surprise. One practical pattern is to alternate between songs you know will land with any crowd and riskier deep cuts from newer artists or lesser-known projects. That way, even skeptical listeners have familiar anchors while you quietly widen the range of what fits the mood.

Over time, some of those once-risky picks become new staples, and your sense of what counts as “safe” slowly expands.

Using personal metrics instead of skips alone

Skips are one signal, but they do not tell the whole story. You might skip a favorite track simply because you are not in the mood. A more helpful metric is noticing which songs you actively seek out later, which ones you quote in conversation, or which ones you catch yourself humming in the middle of the day.

Paying attention to those quieter reactions can guide which songs deserve permanent spots in your Alt-R&B playlist.

Building seasonal rotations instead of one master list

Rather than forcing every mood into a single master playlist, consider building smaller seasonal rotations—winter introspection, spring reset, summer nights, fall reflection. Many Brent-adjacent tracks shine differently depending on the weather, the light, and what is happening in your life at the time.

Rotating which list you lean on throughout the year keeps familiar songs feeling fresh and gives newer discoveries space to breathe.

Using tempo shifts to shape the night

The way tempo rises and falls across a playlist can quietly direct how a night feels. Stringing together too many slow, brooding cuts can flatten the mood, while sudden jumps into faster tracks can feel jarring. Experiment with gentle ramps—two or three mid-tempo songs after a run of slower records—to see how your guests respond.

Over time, you will develop an instinct for when to ease into energy and when to let a long, unbroken stretch of slow Brent-adjacent songs hold the room.

Marking personal moments with specific songs

Many people remember exactly where they were the first time a Brent song really hit them. You can lean into that tendency by intentionally pairing big life moments—moves, milestones, endings—with specific tracks from your Alt-R&B playlist. Over time, the list becomes less of a generic mix and more of a map of your own story.

When you go back to curate, pay attention to which songs still carry that weight and which no longer feel tied to anything meaningful.

Crafting intros and outros with intention

The first and last songs in a playlist carry extra weight. Opening with something too gentle can cause people to tune out before the mood is set, while ending on a chaotic cut can blur the feeling you were trying to leave them with. Experiment with different intro and outro pairs, then ask friends which combinations make them want to run the playlist back.

Over time, you will build a small rotation of openers and closers that anchor whatever Alt-R&B story you are telling that day.

Maintaining your playlist without over-editing

It can be tempting to tweak your Alt-R&B playlist every time you hear a new song, but constant rearranging can keep it from developing a stable identity. Scheduling occasional maintenance sessions—say, once a month—gives you space to sit with songs long enough to know whether they truly belong.

During those passes, look for tracks you always skip, songs that still thrill you, and spots where the energy dips without a purpose.