NEW YORK, NY -- R&B music will soon get a well-deserved boost, as Virgin recording artist Dwele puts the finishing touches on his highly anticipated sophomore album, "SOME KINDA..." Rarely does a new artist inspire such early critical praise and fan appreciation -- both on the U.S. and international fronts -- with a debut album as Dwele did with his groundbreaking "Subject" (2003). Entertainment Weekly wrote that the album "spreads sultry, jazz-inflected R&B over subtle but muscular hip-hop grooves." Fueled by the hit single "Find A Way," "Subject" sold over 250,000 copies, based mainly on the strong, word-of-mouth buzz generated from Dwele's dynamic live shows and cool demeanor. The new album, "SOME KINDA...," will arrive in U.S. record shops on October 4 (the international release is October 3).

"I'm really excited to finish the new album and, more importantly, get back in front of the people," says Dwele. "It will be great to finally share new material that I've been working on for several months. I think people will really see my growth as a songwriter and musician." In addition to working on the new record, the artist has continued touring, including recent sold-out shows in London and Paris.

First single "I Think I Love U," produced by Mike City (Usher, Carl Thomas, Nappy Roots), serves as a soulful preview of "SOME KINDA..." The midtempo burner explores a quickly developing relationship and picks up where the artist left off with Subject. "SOME KINDA..." takes his creativity to the next level, while still giving fans his unique brand of soul music -- a heady mix of traditional and modern R&B, with strong influences from hip-hop and jazz.

Born and based in Detroit, Andwele 'Dwele' Gardner started playing the piano at age six. Although he tragically lost his father at 10, his passion for music at an early age lead to Dwele (pronounced DWELL- ay; means 'God has brought me' in Swahili) becoming a self-taught multi-instrumentalist. Growing up as a fan of hip-hop lead to collaborations with Slum Village (who appear on "SOME KINDA...") and Bahamadia, among others.

Dwele himself produced nine tracks on the new record; other album producers include Mike City, Jay Dilla (Slum Village) and G-1 (R. Kelly, Raphael Saadiq). Today's music scene is starved for more real emotion and musicianship. Dwele delivers this, and much more, on his new album "SOME KINDA..." All you have to do is listen.

http://press.arrivenet.co...76482.html
Dwele's website

I actually went to highschool with Andwele for a period. He transfered before he graduated from the Catholic school that I went to. He was a cool cat. He played keyboards in the jazz and gospel bands. He was always singing and rapping with the "artsy" kids. I remember him being really laid back. I should scan some of the yearbook pictures for you'll when I get home.

I'm one of the few souls who actually purchased Subject but I dont remember hearing anything "groundbreaking."

But I'm eager to hear the new one!

I really liked his unreleased debut, "Rize", but I was kinda disappointed in the officially released album, "Subject"...I wonder if any of that was because of Record Company pressure to do something more mainstream...anyway, I hope this new one is closer to the feel of Rize....




...

Hmm....

I've never heard Rize. Does that have any relation to some bootlegged Dwele tracks I heard this spring called "Dweology" or were those leaked Some Kinda...tracks?

chuckaducci said:

..hmmm...sounds like it was Rize, plus maybe some other things....



...

Questlove said he was won over by Dwele when he got a IPOD filled of 325 unreleased songs including country,soul,pop/rock/jazz and even covers like RadioHead this year.

He said Dwele would never release these and it was a shame that the public wouldn't be able to hear them.

But its amazing how different Subject was from the Bootleg and Rize. It was really tame and middle of the road.
Mike City? I guess ..
Anyways, I just wanted to add that little tidbit I remember reading that Questlove said Dwele is more prolific than people could ever realize.

Trickology said:

Man!! That's a Damn shame, I would Love to hear him doing stuff like that!

paligap said:

Same here I was really let down after listening to Subject. I was okay but it was a far cry from the Rize LP. I thought that Raphael Saadiq was going to produce a track on this new one I'll be hurt if that doesn't get released. Have you heard Dwele's rendition of Bobby Caldwell's "Open Your Eyes"? I'll have to shoot that your way if you haven't.

AntonioFargas said:

Oh yeah, it was part of that Rewind 2 thing with the Platinum Pied Pipers....at the time, the vocalist was listed on the liner notes as 'Elewd', Dwele backwards, ...


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Here are a couple of scans of Dwele from my freshman year highschool yearbook.



Dwele is in the center with the white shirt.

Enjoy.

dreamfactory313 said:

Kool!! Thanks, DF313!!

no prob.

chuckaducci said:

Yeah, I think they're pubbing him up a bit much with that "groundbreaking" comment. I liked his stuff for the most part, but he was pretty monotonous, kinda like how Christopher Williams was - Just one style of singing and no deviation from his original pitch.