Primed for a breakthrough moment, Houston-based rising R&B artist Dende serves up an infectious new single “Need U Like” from forthcoming EP available now via Def Jam Recordings. Listen HERE.
The track’s silky bassline wobbles through a head-nodding beat punctuated by skittering cymbals. His melodic delivery transfixes at every turn. Finally, the momentum culminates on a chantable chorus, “We go together like coffee and cream, J and PB,” going on to admit, “I need you like the fish need the sea.”
It arrives on the heels of his recent anthem “The Louvre” featuring LUCIIA. Earning critical acclaim from Billboard and many more, Rated R&B highlighted how the track “finds Dende enamored by a walking piece of art.” VIBE professed, “Dende’s first release under Def Jam is a soulful ode to his lover and his desire to immortalize her as art in the Louvre,” proceeding to urge, “Dedicate this one to the masterpiece in your life.” REMIXD MAGAZINE hailed it as a “poetic ode to love and admiration” and predicted “If this single is any indication, his next moves will only further solidify his place as a powerhouse in contemporary R&B.”
He has been making steady waves in the industry with his evocative storytelling and seamless fusion of early 2000s R&B with raw, personal narratives. Born in Katy, Texas, he grew up as a preacher’s son, honing his musical roots in church. His full-band live performances have captivated audiences at renowned venues, including SXSW and Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right. His UPROXX Live Performance remains the platform’s most-watched in history.
His most recent 2024 3-track EP, Wish You Were Here, garnered praise from RatedRnB, OurGenerationMusic, On The Radar, and Uproxx, following the success of Before We Crash and ‘95 Civic, which amassed over 6M streams independently. With over 400K monthly Spotify listeners and recognition from Billboard, On The Radar, REVOLT, and Lyrical Lemonade, Dende was named one of Complex’s 2024 Artists to Watch.
About Dende:
Katy-bred, Houston, Texas-based crooner Dende doesn’t necessarily want to bring yearning back to R&B (as many are asking for), but instead, he aims to reinvent that style. On his upcoming Def Jam debut EP, instead of singing about how he needs a lover, Dende muses about how he will do anything for someone. How he will shift himself to satisfy them if need be. This is what separates Dende from the pack of modern R&B vocalists: a focused and distinct intention that explodes into euphoric multilayered melodies.
As a singer raised in the church, where his father was a pastor, and as a vocalist who is also technically trained in opera, Dende’s vocal prowess is at an all-time high. His stacks and deliveries portray a singer who is equal parts playful and proficient. His talent has landed him a Sofar Sounds residency in London and features on podcasts hosted by Pharrell and Joe Budden.
With higher expectations comes higher concepts from Dende (after the success of his 2023 projects Before We Crash and ‘95 Civic). I am because you are… derives inspiration from channeling the zaniness of visual artists (including Basquiat and a few others) and writing songs from the purview of how they would write about their muses. This aligns deeply with his desire to write about shifting himself for romantic partners, as he literally takes on other artist’s psyches. But don’t worry, the vocals remain gorgeous and in full force.
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