DWY IS THE STORYTELLER THAT THE WORLD DESPERATELY NEEDS

Born in Florida and raised in the UK, DWY is one to look out for. By melding modern sensibilities with throwback R&B elements, he has skillfully crafted his own unique sound. DWY grew up listening to The Fugees, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, and Mario Winans, and this inspiration is apparent on new single “Latchkey.” You might be wondering how Bruce Springsteen inspired an R&B track. Two words: Engaging storytelling.

And how might a great songwriter support such a story? With stellar production and melody. The whole song just feels fresh. The production combines everything great about R&B classics with the sounds of right now, creating this innovative, bouncy new sound. With a subtle tape crack, the song has a vintage vibe. An active bassline and shiny percussion support DWY’s unique voice.

DWY - LATCHKEY

Released May 27th on WILDER, the singles label from Future Classic and Tom Windish, “Latchkey” is accompanied by a short film. Shot from the point of view of a young man, we see him wake up and go through his day alone. While this video version of the song is only a minute and 53 seconds long, it’s full of symbolism that one could spend hours thinking about.

DWY - LATCHKEY (SHORT FILM)

The lyrics tell a nostalgia-laced story about Johnny, a latchkey kid. A latchkey kid is a child who comes home to an empty house after school. The song explains that Johnny’s mother works 3 jobs and often doesn’t return until 2am. With no curfew, Johnny gets caught up in partying and adolescent confusion. He’s forced to make big decisions at a young age and tries to remember his mother’s advice.

In an interview with DJ Booth, DWY explained that the hook is “that one thing your mom says to you” that replays in the back of your head. His mother’s message is gripping and has been heard by black children for centuries. Representation of this narrative is incredibly important, especially now. As the fires burn and the people fight for justice in Minnesota, the warning still rings true today: “Be careful of the shooter… When you Black, they want your future.”

Arielle Tindel is from Cleveland, Ohio. She recently graduated from Berklee College of Music with degrees in Music Business Marketing and Songwriting. In her free time, Arielle can be found gardening or playing bass.