After a massive debut year, rising singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and alternative outlier Bryant Barnes (@imbryantbarnes) blossoms into an artistic luminary with an emotionally charged ballad, “Why Can’t You,” via Mercury Records.
Bryant Barnes – “Why Can’t You” Single

“Why Can’t You” is a deeply personal track that captures the raw vulnerability of heartbreak and unrequited love, showcasing Bryant’s unparalleled ability to connect with listeners through evocative lyrics and enchanting melodies. Over his signature simplistic guitar strums, he explores the profound loneliness of a relationship in turmoil, as Bryant pleads for his partner to stay in love.
About the song’s creation, Bryant shares, “I remember back in the day, I was looking for a bunch of beats and I was struggling to find anything I liked. That night I had a dream that I’d met an artist and I didn’t really have music for them to hear, so when I woke up, I said damn I gotta lock-in. I started making a song from scratch and that was my first time doing that. It ended up being something I really liked! I decided to work on it in LA with Andrew Luce and make sure we finished it. That was over a year ago and we finally got it to where it’s at now. The song is, as most songs are, about one of the girls that I was talking to back in the day.”
“Why Can’t You” arrives as Bryant Barnes gears up to join 070 Shake on her highly anticipated “The Petrichor Tour” with 22 dates across North America. Kicking off on January 24th in Washington, DC, the show visits Brooklyn on February 1st and wraps in Los Angeles on February 28th. As Bryant’s social platform finds mainstream recognition on the live stage, this tour marks a pivotal moment in his career. Buy tickets from Ticketmaster.com to see Bryant Barnes perform LIVE.
Bryant Barnes – “Is This Love To You” Single

To close out last year, Bryant Barnes released “Is This Love To You” and launched his first sold-out headline run in November with shows in Houston, New York, and Los Angeles. Within merely three minutes of going on sale, all of the tickets were grabbed by fans in a frenzy! Elsewhere, Bryant took over online with numerous performances on acclaimed platforms including COLORS, On The Radar, VEVO, and From The Block.
Bryant Barnes

Recently named Vevo DSCVR 2025 Artist To Watch, Bryant’s profile has exploded in the last year, attracting over 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify and exponentially expanding his online following too. He has quietly taken flight as one of the year’s boldest breakout artists. “I’d Rather Pretend” quickly became one of Bryant’s most popular songs with a tidal wave of viral engagement. Upon release, it crashed the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs Chart peaking at #7. Simultaneously it gained nearly over 137 million global streams as the debut EP “VANITY” peaked at #13 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart and #10 on Apple Music R&B Albums Chart. The EP has impressively reeled in 260 million global streams and counting.
Bryant Barnes – “I’d Rather Pretend”

Building on this success, Bryant teamed up with fellow Houston native and 19-year-old visionary artist d4vd for a new rendition of “I’d Rather Pretend.” Barnes has also graced coveted media platforms and received co-signs from artists like Trippie Redd and Kodak Black.
As soon as his fingers connect to an instrument, soul, and spirit fill the room. Music freely flows through Bryant Barnes everywhere he goes. Born in Cypress, Texas, he moved back and forth between Tacoma, WA, and Houston as a kid. At six years old, his mom and dad placed him in classical piano lessons, which he continued through his freshman year of high school. During middle school, he learned cello and joined the orchestra.
Bryant’s basketball ambitions would be derailed by a torn ACL, so he rapped for fun. Throughout COVID, Bryant gained traction on TikTok with viral piano covers of XXXTENTACION, Joji, Mac Miller, Brent Faiyaz, and more in addition to the Interstellar score.
Viral videos captured Bryant behind the public pianos at LAX and George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Along the way, he obtained a microphone and guitar. Between building an audience of 1.7 million on TikTok, he quietly crafted a signature style of his own. His cover of “Carry On” by XXXTENTACION and Shiloh Dynasty caught the attention of Mercury Records who promptly signed him in 2023.
Bryant Barnes – “Why Can’t You” Single
We recommend adding Bryant Barnes’ “Why Can’t You” single to your favorite alternative playlist. We would love to hear your thoughts! Please comment below and let us know how this song makes you feel. Remember, your feedback helps us bring you more of the music you love to discover. As always, thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment. We’re your go-to source for new music and positive entertainment news. Remember, (P)ositive (E)nergy (A)lways (C)reates (E)levation—P.E.A.C.E.
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