Adrian Lyles doesn’t just make music about his life. Instead, his music actually reflects the ebb and flow of life itself.

Shifting styles without warning, guitar-driven alternative soundscapes mirror the unpredictability of each and every moment, while arrestingly catchy pop choruses capture a universal calling to communicate and connect. The Dallas-raised and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor leans on over a decade of playing live and writing to channel unfiltered emotions and authentic experiences through a series of 2024 singles and his forthcoming debut for Hollywood Records.

“I want my music to be extraordinarily human, imperfect, and real,” he states. “If you listen to me, I hope you remember you’re a human being with a unique existence. Your feelings are true, and you’re allowed to feel whatever you feel.”

He initially immersed himself in writing and recording during 2023. Since then, Adrian has not only quickly become comfortable, but also impressively prolific in the studio. Early on, he linked up with legendary production powerhouse Max Martin's writer/producer collective, MXM, at their studios in Los Angeles. “In a way, it felt like I was thrown into the deep end of the pool immediately,” he reminisces. “I’ve always written music on my own, but working with someone responsible for so many hits was crazy. We were doing a song per day and would bring back a finished song after every session. It really shaped and solidified what I was trying to do before by myself.”

Following his sessions at MXM, he continued to evolve while collaborating with an A-list cohort of songwriters and producers including Oak, Gian Stone, Johan Carlsson, and more. He has also tapped the talents of a network of rising producers a la Lenii, Ella Boh, and Housefly. On a creative tear fueled by the support of his own vibrant creative community, he penned a staggering 150-plus tunes for his proper debut LP.

This experience infused the music with confidence and a distinct identity of its own, enabling Adrian to speak and sing straight from the heart.

“Music has always been at the forefront of my mind,” he notes. “I've always felt it in my soul. It was like I was awaiting to say something for all of this time. Exactly what comes out of my head and heart is what we put into the music. We just find a way to materialize it together. I think what makes it so different is just that it comes straight from me.” 

Born in Florida, Adrian’s musical journey began with piano lessons at just three years old. His parents introduced him to music from Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Kate Bush, and Whitney Houston, as well as Chinese traditional music. He later discovered favorite artists and inspirations such as Twenty One Pilots, Dominic Fike, and Jon Bellion. He honed his voice while working with the non-profit Melody of Hope, performing at numerous benefit concerts and gigging multiple times per week. At the same time, he wrote and recorded songs of his own. Attending Booker T. Washington High School of Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, he simultaneously embraced acting. During 2022, he landed the role of “Jet” on Season 3 of Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. He contributed a handful of recordings to the show’s Official Soundtrack, serving up the fan favorite “Right Place.” The latter tallied millions of streams and garnered a nomination at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Following Season 4, he inked a deal with Hollywood Records and has not stopped writing since.

Now, he kicks off the next era with his official debut single “Formalize Me.” On the track, palm-muted guitar tiptoes around a head-nodding beat punctuated by snappy cymbals. He flexes his versatile vocals as he warns, “Don’t say you won’t come back, I’ll see your ass tomorrow.” Strings uplift an undeniable refrain, and he urges, “Formalize me, make me something or make me nothing.” 

“Somebody will do something for you, and you’ll feel as if you owe this person,” he reveals. “The whole song sarcastically says, ‘Go ahead and turn my art into a thing as many people as possible will like. Take away my originality’. The conversation follows the narrator’s mental journey. It builds towards a big realization at the end, ‘No, I actually don’t want that; I want to make my own art’.”

Sirens give way to wailing keys and a hazy bounce on “Somewhere To Go.” His breathy verses coast over soft piano and acoustic guitar until an anthemic chorus takes hold with a plea, “I’ve been stuck inside my mind, can you take me home?”

“Love songs are much harder to write than everybody thinks,” he laughs. “I tend to go about it in a very real way. ‘Somewhere To Go’ follows the story of this guy who’s in love with a girl and she’s his sanctuary. Sonically, we gave it an alternative and grungy vibe.”

Then, there’s “King of Everything.” His intimate delivery weighs heavy on a softly plucked acoustic arpeggio. He wrestles with self-doubt and anxiety out loud, “How long do I have to wait around for everyone to laugh and say that now I’m better than they thought?”

“All of my writing is from a place of honesty, but ‘King of Everything’ is definitely the most personal to me,” he elaborates. “The song is about doubt. You’re wondering if you’re going to make it. Without moderation, growth can be painful and stressful. You need to let yourself breathe.”

Ultimately, Adrian’s music is the sound of humanity in all of its perfect imperfection.

“This is just me,” he leaves off. “I hope you get something positive from my story and are maybe inspired to share your story.”