Damez is a rapper, singer, dancer, songwriter, editor, creative director, and a rising star in music. With a focus on on rap and and R&B, he showcases his talents and versatility through an eclectic catalog of self-penned songs and choreography-heavy visuals and performances.
Damez spoke with rolling out about his latest single and what people can expect from his upcoming album.
How would you describe your music?
I would describe it as authentic and versatile. I try not to put myself in a box, and I’m very complex and have a lot of different sides to me. I try to express those different sides in my music, presentation and performances. I love to dance, sing and rap. I love different types of songs and different types of feelings and emotions. I’m not just like one type of artist, and I never saw myself as one type of artist. My favorite artists are not those types of artists either.
Tell us about your new single, “Contrary to Norm.”
I wrote that song maybe early last year. I was in a dark space going through a lot of stuff personally and I just needed to get a lot off [my chest]. My last two projects were turnt up and confident, and I wanted to return to the music that I was making when I first started. I was a lot more personal and vulnerable, and I felt relatable in a sense. I lost my brother when I was 17, and my parents were divorced maybe two years before that happened. It was a lot of back-to-back tumultuous events and music was where I found refuge and the song just kind of represents the story of my life. It’s about who I am in a song. I wanted to put the turn up to the side for a little bit and bring storytelling and vulnerability to the forefront.
What can people expect from your upcoming album?
Hell Now, Heaven Later came to me a few years ago and I locked into it. For me, it represents we’re going through it now and s— isn’t perfect right now. Things aren’t what I want them to be but I’m still hopeful for the future. Heaven later is saying that there’s still light in the tunnel. If I just get through this, I’ll be all right when I get to the other side. I think it just represents the struggle, but it also is hopeful and optimistic. You can expect a completely different side of me from my last two projects. You can expect a lot of vulnerability, singing, bars, and me expressing myself by pouring my soul out into my music.
