First Listen: Chairmen of the Board’s Darryl Johnson knows the “Nightmare”

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(November 8, 2020) On his new song “Nightmare,” Chairmen of the Board member Darryl Johnson sings about something that many of us have experienced – just not in the way that someone like Johnson, who has built their career being in the public eye experiences it. “Nightmare” is about the contrast between the public face that we show the world, what is truly going on beneath the surface, and how we respond when we can no longer ignore that contrast. “Nightmare” is song about what we truly see when we look in the mirror in those private moments.

“Nightmare” is a great song that operates at the intersection of R&B, Southern Soul and Jazz and Johnson puts every ounce of emotion and skill into the song’s searing and heart felt lyrics. The bass line – with its mid-tempo funky groove – definitely has that 80s smooth R&B feel, while the vividly descriptive lyrics and Johnson’s vocals draw equally from gospel and Southern Soul, and then there is a little jazz improvisation on the saxophone just to top it off. Johnson absolutely nails it here. “Nightmare” is a dream of a song. Check it out here.

By Howard Dukes

Darryl Johnson – “Nightmare”

Video

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