Toronto based duo, dvsn, (pronounced division, and written stylistically in all lowercase letters) comprised of singer Daniel Daley and producer Nineteen85, have developed an impressive catalog over the years. Thanks to the recognizable smooth voice of Daniel Daley and masterful production of Nineteen85, the pair have become one of the premiere acts in R&B.
I was first introduced to dvsn on Drake’s Views album. They are featured on the single “Faithful”. I soon found out that they were featured on background tracks for a couple of other Drake songs and were signed to OVO sound. Still, I didn’t actually gravitate to the group until the song, “P.O.V.” slid into one of my R&B mixes, on it’s own. I love a good R&B ballad, but this one, with it’s play on the classic Maxwell song, instantly had me hooked.
From there I went and discovered the group’s first album, Sept 5th. The album is named after the date their lives were changed. On September 5, 2015, Drake played some of the group’s music on his OVO Sound Apple Beats 1 Show, and nothing would be the same. The album wasn’t released until April 2016, but because of the co-sign, they were instantly added to playlists and making a name for themselves.
By 2017 they were the opening act for Drake’s The Boy Meets World Tour. That same year they released their sophomore project, Morning After. The album featured the aforementioned “P.O.V.” song, along with other stand out tracks, “Nuh Time/Tek Time” and “Mood”.
The group has been incredibly private. Their early music videos told stories with characters, not including themselves. I didn’t know what either of them looked like until I found their NPR Tiny Desk Concert, which was released in November 2018. They have since opened up and singer Daniel, has been featured in their more recent music videos.
The most recent dvsn album, A Muse In Her Feelings, finds the group in their most comfortable position yet. The album features special guests for the first time ever and the duo have have branched out with their sound, playing with different elements and genres, even more so than usual.
The timing of this latest album surely has impacted their rise to becoming a true household name. This latest project has featured some of their biggest singles and the fact that they won’t be able to tour this project any time soon or hit festival stages this Summer is criminal. Maybe this will help speed up their creative process so fans won’t have to wait 3 years for a new release. We need consistent music from these fellas. dvsn needs to be making guest appearances and sharing their sound with as many as possible. Whatever they choose to do, they have created a brand of R&B that we need and R&B lovers should be excited for.
Main Image Credit: Scott Dudelson / Contributor – Getty Images North America
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