A song tells a story. This could be purposefully done, where the writer is deliberate and explicit, or it could be more subconscious and left to interpretation. Regardless of the method, either approach is a catalyst for an array of intriguing sounds.

Dan Pomfret’s new album “Chameleon” achieves both. The Providence based artist and Coventry native released the title on June 13 and its music lives up to the title. This is due to the stylistic shifts that embrace Pomfret’s roots in both hip hop and progressive rock, with the bands Toad & The Stooligans and The Morgana Phase, along with the inclusion of R&B, pop and electronica. 

Like a lot of records that have come out during the 2020s, “Chameleon” began as a project for Pomfret during the COVID-19 lockdowns at the start of the decade. With the vulnerable and personal nature of the lyrics, he spent some time being a bit unsure about releasing the album, but he eventually decided to go through with it for the sake of connection with whoever gives it a listen.

“I had been relegated from the stage to my slowly growing home studio, which at the time was a Macbook, a Focusrite, and an Ikea desk from work,” Pomfret says about the making of the full-length. “I knew I wanted to mix the in-the-box sounds of the digital world with real recorded sound, I knew I wanted to tell a story, and I knew I didn't want to restrict myself too much stylistically.

“This album is not really a sunny day feel good record, but I hope it showcases a bunch of emotions from fear to loneliness to addiction to love and joy. I think of it as a baroque pop concept album, but I don't really want to give away the narrative. I've talked about it before but I think I've said too much and I'd rather listeners interpret the story however it hits them because then it becomes collaboration between artist and listener.

“This record very nearly never saw the light of day, and it was really kind of just a ‘screw it, let's put this out’ mentality that led to the release,” he adds. “I hope people are able to get something out of it, it's been really meaningful for me.”

While most of the songs have Pomfret as the central creator, there are a few collaborations.

This is evident in the title track that features local hip hop artist Joe Bruce The Waterbearer, “If I Had The Time” with pop artist Viana Valentine, and “Badchurch” and “Sugar”, which both have fellow Toad & The Stooligans bandmate ToadStool being brought into the fold with the latter also having Ferriss Mueller lend their talents.

Along with these, other highlights off of “Chameleon” include “Lovey Dovey”, “I Am Bottomless” and “Snowballing”. These are just my personal preferences, but I do recommend giving the album a listen from beginning to end. It’s the best way to experience the artistic variety that the songs provide.

To do exactly that, search for Pomfret’s new album on either Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes or Deezer. To keep tabs on what Pomfret has going on in the future, follow him on Instagram at instagram.com/danfrombothbands.