Black Is Golden

Black Is Golden in 180 Gram Vinyl
Wyn Starks makes his full-length debut with 2021'sBlack is Golden, an album rooted in versatilevocals, genre-spanning songwriting, and the courage to break new ground. A bold blend ofthrowback grooves and modern moves, these songs balance themselves equally betweenprogressive pop music, contemporary soul, and danceable R&B. Power ballads like "Sparrow"and "At the End of the River" even nod to gospel music—a sound that Starks discovered duringhis childhood years in Minneapolis, where he sang his first solos in church—but for all itsreverence of the past,Black is Goldenproudly roots itself in the present. Themes like socialpolitics and racial equality help strengthen the album's contemporary punch, and Starks tackleseach song with a rare mix of personal intimacy and universal appeal. These arehisstories, afterall, but they're meant for everyone."I decided to call the albumBlack Is Goldenbecause it is!" he says. "It's important that we knowwho we are, and celebrate the beauty we've contributed to this society. We should all celebrateeach other's differences, especially considering the history of injustice in this country when itcomes to black and brown people. I'm learning how to celebrate these accomplishments in myown life, too—to love myself, flaws and all. "Mixing viral hits like "Circles" and "Dancing My Way" with unreleased songs like "Let YouDown,"Black is Goldenshines as brightly as its title suggests. Call it a celebration of diversityand individuality, delivered by a musician who's proud to highlight the very things that makehim different