Meet DWY

Today we’d like to introduce you to DWY.

DWY, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Miami, Florida but grew up in London in a Jamaican household. I never used to be a very musical kid, always loved to listen but couldn’t do. I was the kid in class the teacher would give the triangle to because I was that bad, but I always loved to tell stories. At 16, that all changed. I remember being in the car and they were playing some classics and I heard Mario Winnans I Don’t Wanna Know, and something in me screamed, now its time to write songs. A few months later I went university, and to hang out with all the older kids I dived into music and never looked back.

I worked a bunch of jobs after I graduated, but I only wanted to make music, so I’d intern at studios and for a couple of years, I was writing songs for other people. There was a meeting I was in and they asked for one of my songs, and I remember having this feeling of “no, this one’s mine”. At that point, I knew I was an artist and not a writer, so I kind of disappeared from the industry for a while and just focused on my own sound, my own perspective and just wrote songs everyday in my flat in Forest Hill, I basically made my living room into a studio.

After collecting a bunch of songs that felt like me, I’d recently parted with a then manager and took my own money and just put out the first song “Over You”. I didn’t know what to expect and it kind of opened the door for me as an artist. Off of the back of that song, I jumped on a plane to LA, because I felt it was calling me. That then lead to me writing my first short film, based around the record I’d written called 8-bit Memories with my creative partner Jesse Rose. I met an amazing director Quran Squire at the house of my good friend Love Mansuys place. He’d been telling me about him for some time, and we met and talked for hours about film and life. I then brought the idea to the brilliant actress Cadienne Obeng, and we brought it to life. The short was produced by radical media. It’s really a story of a guy trying to figure out this twenties, and navigate all that life throws at him, whilst he’s trying to hold onto love.

I’m a storyteller, who pours his everything into what I write. I’d say I’m not the most expressive person, I’m really shy and introverted, so everything thats inside comes out in the art that I make. I have my upcoming debut project “8-bit Memories” coming soon along with the movie, and they’re really just a culmination of my life so far and my experiences which I feel people will be able to relate to.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been far from a smooth road! I’ve worked jobs I hate, been broker that I could have imagined, not known where I was sleeping from night to night, lost friends and lovers all in pursuit of this insatiable desire to create and be heard. But I wouldn’t change any of it. I’ve been away from my family for almost two years, only flying back when I can. I missed the birth of my brother’s twins, missed birthdays, anniversaries, and in those moments you kind of battle with yourself, like am I doing the right thing, am I a bad person.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m an artist. It’s all about telling honest stories that connect to people. Music is my number one passion. I put everything into writing the songs I write, I go hours in the studio, sometimes days at a time not leaving trying to give it my all.

I can only speak from the way I see the world you know. I was born in Miami, grew up in south London, went to university at 16, my household was afro-caribbean. My mum would play Prince and Bruce Springsteen, my dad would play The Fugees and Busta Rhymes. I went to school in Ghana for a year, I packed up my stuff and jumped on a plane to LA without really knowing anyone, so all of this forms my world view and creates so many places for me to pull inspiration from.

My proudest moment would have to be the moment we said “It’s a wrap” when we finished shooting the short movie, and watching the first edit, I definitely shed a tear. And hearing my song on the radio for the first time too!

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck has played a huge role! I met Jesse my creative partner by luck, I was staying a friend’s house and I happened to meet Jesse by the pool and we struck up a conversation that has in-turn really changed the trajectory of my career.

I think all you can do is work your ass off, and then the lucky moment arrives you’ll be ready for it.

I got to sit at the piano and sing my song “Everything” directly to Mark Ronson as he sat next to me looking into my face, I was like WTF is my life real right now and that was because of luck and knowing someone how passes your music on.

I’d be a liar if I said part of why I am where I am today isn’t because of luck, because some people work their asses off and opportunity doesn’t fall their way. So always listen to your gut, because often it’s pointing you towards a lucky break.

Contact Info:

• Website: justdwy.com
• Email: justdwy@gmail.com

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