The eclectic, imaginative, and aggressive artistry of Bordeaux, France-based (by way of Scotland) singer-songwriter and MC, Will Dee, represents the beginning of what we at The Ark of Music see as a total overhaul of the music world. Scratch that, it’s a revolution.
You don’t have to like it (but you will) in order for this statement to be true. It just is what it is. Boundaries, rules, gatekeepers, concepts, and confinements of all type, manner and kind are evaporating before our very eyes. To hell with studios and genres, brands and images. This is the moment for real-time inspiration, where an artist does what they want—when they want. This is the time, for Will Dee.
Leaving home at sixteen, Will gigged and busked his way to adulthood, forcing him to hone something hard, edgy, skilled, weathered and quick-witted.
Previous works include the two solo acoustic albums, Park, and, Tunnel; as well as three albums with his electronica/hip-hop group, Newton Colours, which includes, Where The Weather Went, Into Blue Interludes, and Original Electronics.
Dee’s first solo hip-hop album was 2019’s, New Beats and Pinties!!, which served as a prelude to his latest offering, the wildly unique, the unapologetically honest, the aptly titled, Ghosts.
HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…
Opening with, Outside, the production feels like CunninLynguists, while the edgy, abstract and melancholy flow has just enough Scottish accent to blow your mind and make you realize that no culture owns a sound. Furthermore, did they ever? This track is deeply honest and represents the polar opposite of commercial pop rap. It’s immediately refreshing. (See the video below.)
OUR FAVORITE TRACK… There’s just a hint of Wu Tang Clan & Method Man in the hook to, Flyin’ Changin’, a jazz-filled hazy solute to the passage of time and the relationships that come and go along with it. It’s short and sweet, and it’s our favorite track. That beat & bass-line are too damn smooth.
Absolutely loving the guitar lick-loops in, The Alligator. The minimalist composition is on point allowing the attitude and spirit to thrive.
Soho Rickshaw’s 90’s-era Cypress Hill vibe is a smokey and smooth throwback to hip-hop’s golden age.
Ghosts In The Song (feat. Elizabeth Sophie) has two personalities. One is gruff and articulate. The other is melodic and smooth. Again there’s a CunninLynguists composition style here. That said, as far as hip-hop goes, I’ve never heard anything quite like this.
The jazz-funk instrumental, Bar Worker, has a Beastie Boys vibe and an absolutely chill appeal. We love when artists have enough courage to close their mouths—every now and then—and let a phat beat do its thing.
A charming guitar lick loops in, 2nd Thoughts, a jazz-lounge brand of ultra-chill hip-hop, and a relatable track of regret…
“Why did I say what I said?
And why did I say it like that?”
Concluding this gruff and creative ride is, Two Poems, a nostalgic and melancholy journey into the memories a well-traveled artist underpinned by another ambient and minimalist rhythm track. This final cut arguably contains the heart and sound of the entire project.
IN CONCLUSION…
Unbound. Explorative. The embodiment of the current musical era’s refusal to be pigeonholed, restricted, or silenced in any capacity whatsoever. Will Dee’s latest solo album, Ghosts, rounds the corners you thought would be sharp, and sharpens those you thought would be soft. The entire project feels like experiencing a bachelor party wearing a blindfold: you have no idea what the hell’s going to happen next, and you can’t wait for more.
Dee’s confident presence on the mic has clearly been crafted from his time scrapping, hustling, and busking as a kid. There’s simply no replacement for the age and experience gained by an authentic grind forged by the need to survive. This album is living proof of that fact. But there’s more. In addition to his abilities on the mic, he also has an extremely keen ear for production appeal, placing samples, licks, and melodies together of which most would never conceive. Be sure to check out music from Ghosts below.
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
CunninLynguists meets Madhat McGore…
BELOW: Watch & listen to music from Will Dee’s album, Ghosts, and connect with his website and social media platforms. Please support Will Dee by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!
Follow, stream, download & connect with WILL DEE online:
