Singers with Unique Voices: Domenic Haynes (The Unique Voices Club #42)

Every other Friday, I write a post about singers with unique voices not commonly heard in mainstream music. My goal? To educate emerging artists and music lovers while inspiring them to embrace their own quirks. This week, I'm writing on Domenic Haynes.

Photo credit to NBC

Happy It's Still Black History Month, firebirds! Which is why I'm specifically focusing on black artists this month (though doing this is not just limited to February - we should be listening to black unique voices year-round). A good chunk of the artists out there come from a church choir and gospel background, but now and then we find some that have different influences like growing up in Hawaii or around the folk music world (Thunderstorm Artis, Tamara Weber or Vagabon) or being exposed to traditional sounds from their African country of origin (Zolani Mahola, Marcus Harvey, Lorine Chia). But today I have someone who was labeled a pop artist: Domenic Haynes.

Heck no.

He sounds like he could be a member of the Black Pumas, and they're a psychedelic soul band. And so his recent offerings aim to shed that pop artist narrative. And as you watch in the breakdown below, you will agree with me that he ain't no pop artist. He's too different, seeing as pop music sounds nearly identical and electronic now. He could even crush a musical theatre song designed for a rough, crackly voice full of unbridled emotions. Watch the video below to learn which one!

But yeah, my ears were tickled pink. And yours will be too.

And here's your biweekly reminder to share the video and this blog to anyone who could benefit from it. Both music lovers and musical theatre writers. Because anyone who works with music can benefit from the alternative perspectives this blog brings.

Hope you have a wonderful rest of Black History Month!

Stay educated,

Alexia