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Singer/songwriter Dwele (pronounced dweh-lay) has carved out a niche for himself in the contemporary soul game as a smooth jazz-minded crooner of introspective and innovative groove. The Detroit-based artist first made a name for himself with a demo he made in his bedroom which led to one of the hippest hip hop soul collaborations of all-time (Slum Village's "Tainted"), a major label deal. Subsequent work followed with artists that stretch from Roy Ayers (in concert), Boney James (on record) and Earth Wind & Fire (on the Grammy-nominated remake for "That's The Way of the World"), to rappers Common's Grammy nominated "The People," and Kanye West's Grammy-winning single "Flashing Lights." On his own, he contributed the single gems "Find a Way" and "I Think I Luv U" to the canon of neo soul classics, but is best loved as that rare maker of fine albums.
His third and latest album Sketches of a Man finds Dwele on the independent RT Music Group (the domain of his managers Ron and Tim, distributed by KOCH), meticulously baking another masterpiece of chocolate soul genius. "With my first album, Subject, I had about three years worth of material to work with between 2000 and 2003," he begins. "But with the next one, Some Kinda (2005), I didn't take as much time as I wanted because I was in and out of the studio touring on the road, so I didn't have as many songs to choose from. This time, I slowed down and marinated in the creative process again."
Dwele is a very spontaneous and organic creator in that he never goes into an album with a preset concept in mind. Rather he weaves a storyline from the songs he selects and sequences for the album, noting the picture they create for him. This makes him as surprised about the finished project as his admirers.
The album's first single is a mindbender he calls "I'm Cheatin'," produced by West Coast-based G-1 who helmed his breakthrough hit "Find a Way" as well as "Know Your Name" from Some Kinda. "It's based on somewhat of a real story that I put a spin on," Dwele shares. "Unless you really pay attention you might get the wrong idea. From the jump you'd think I was talking to two girls, but it's really two sides of the same person. It sounds like I'm cheatin' on my girl, but actually I'm cheatin' on my girl with my girl… You definitely have to listen to this one a few times before you really get it. It's different.makes your mind work."
Another surprise arrives with the song "A Few Reasons," a second single contender that Dwele collaborated on with a producer out of Virginia named Nottz. "Nottz' spot has a real homey vibe to it," Dwele recalls, "no pressure, no glamour but very comfortable. I felt like I was back at my mom's house. My lil' brother Antwon (a hell of a trombone player) is going to Norfolk State University there, so when I wasn't cuttin', I was hanging out with him and his college crew. I think that played a part in the way the song came out - less jazzy and more hip hop. It's a fun club song you can get your snap on with. Knox's track brought the fun out of me."
Clever as all of the preceding songs are, one of the deepest pieces on the new album is a cut that Dwele composed and produced alone. Titled "Vain," this jazzy track addresses the psychological toll that being in love with an artist takes on his partner. "This song is like a musical argument," Dwele expains. "My girl has a problem with me being in the industry. She wants me out for two reasons: one, it takes up a lot of my time, and two, she doesn't appreciate the arrogant 'show' I have to put on by being in the industry. In a relationship like this, both people have to be strong and have a lot of confidence in each other to deal. I sing, 'Can you blame me for wanting to hold onto something in vain / Because in holding on to this vainness, I'm trying to hold on to you.'" Clearly inspired by personal experience, Dwele draws the line at it being 100% autobiography. "It's personal, but in my case it didn't escalate to this extreme. If it had, this is the conversation I would have had with her."
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Dwele was born Andwele Gardner, his first name translating as "God has brought me" in the African language of Swahili. He was raised on the west side of Detroit. At a young age, Dwele was forced to cope with the murder of his father just outside of the family home, but not before his father had passed down a love for music to both him and his younger brother Antwon. Dwele started on piano at age 6, and later learned trumpet, guitar and bass. Growing up in the age of rap, though, he first became a hip hop MC inspired by A Tribe Called Quest. However, his ingrained respect for jazz and soul ushered him back to singing and playing.
Dwele recorded a demo called "Rize" in his bedroom that became a swift 313 area seller, catching the astute ears of local heroes Slum Village - most notably their world-renowned producer J Dilla (James Yancey). The group invited Dwele to sing the hook of the song "Tainted" for their album Trinity: Past, Present and Future (2002) which became an instant classic and led to further high profile work with Philadelphia female rapper Bahamadia, the all-star group Lucy Pearl (led by former Tony Toni Tone' member Raphael Saadiq) and London's New Sector Movement. It was his turn and next up were his two solo albums, Subject (2003) and Some Kinda (2005), followed by an even more impressive string of cameos and collabos.
Addressing his criteria for getting down with other artists, Dwele states, "I always wanted to work with Common so that was a natural. Slum Village is like 'fam.' Boney is a great guy and I love his work. And Kanye' I respect so that had to go down. But with other artists that I'm not as familiar with, it's about hearing the work or being able to hear myself on it. But what I really look for is something that can take me in a direction that I haven't touched yet." Asked if that has happened recently, he continues, "I did a project with a DJ from Japan named DJ Mitsu. The music wasn't too outside of my element, but the experience was. He didn't have any concept for me. He just sent me the music and said 'go for it!' It was strange to just make a hook with no direction. The song is called 'Right Here.' Now when I go to Japan, people know the song and they know me." Coming up, Dwele plays hype man to Foxy Brown, writing and singing an old school chant/hook for a song from her long-awaited comeback CD.
Beyond music-making, Dwele has been expressing himself in other artistic areas. "I love to jump off into different things. Most recently I've been DJing in clubs. I play a lot of rare groove and Top 40. I'm getting my catalog up so I can do whatever I'm called for. I'm also dabbling in painting and sketching." Proof of the latter is showcased in the CD packaging of Sketches of a Man. His works are mural size done in acrylic in black and white and a few in color.
When the world calls, Dwele looks forward to hitting the road again. His shows have been getting better and better reviews as he's grown along the way and he plans to stretch himself even further this go round by playing more guitar and trumpet on stage in addition to singing and playing electric piano.
Wherever he may travel, Dwele's heart will always be in Detroit, the place that has provided him endless inspiration music-wise and life-wise. "Detroit is home," he says simply. "My family and friends are here. There are so many different vibes and elements I can pull from. Musically, it's big for soul, house, techno and hip hop. You can always go to a hole in the wall and see a performance in any of those genres. I play off of all of them."
Though outsiders are fed a steady stream of bleak pictures of Detroit's dwindling fortunes, Dwele sees the bigger picture. "Economically, it's not at a high right now. We have our grimy side but we also have our beautiful side. Downtown is coming up. I love it. I can find posh and grimy there as I need them."
Thus the impeccable balance of musical elements that are in evidence on Dwele's masterful new offering, Sketches of a Man
(March 2008)
