Summer Dennis is a proud Prince George County native — that’s where her love for music started, as she was raised in a Christian household. She wasn’t allowed to listen to rap growing up; her father would always throw away any CDs she sneaked into the home. Ironically enough, it would be her singing hooks for rappers that got her into the studio, which eventually turned into her recording her own music. Now the singer is enjoying her best year yet due to the success of her hit song “Pink Lotus.” The song even received a reggae remix by the legendary producer Harmony Samuels. Summer Dennis attended rolling out‘s Peace and Purpose conference. The rolling out team spoke with her about her hit song and her upcoming 2025 plans.
Why was Kaash Paige the perfect artist for “Pink Lotus?“
Well, the song is talking about consent. I really like that both of us present differently as women. I think demographically, like, we’re both black women, but we both express ourselves in different ways. And I love songs about consent. She’s kind of a rapper, kind of a singer; I’m kind of, like, more of like R&B jazz vocalist. So, it was, like, the merging of two different types of art —and I thought that was really dope, too. I’ve never collaborated with somebody who performs that style, so it was really cool to have both of us, I think.
Who were your musical inspirations?
I would say Lauryn Hill’s album, The Miseducation [of Lauryn Hill], like, changed my life. I was so young. Literally, I used to cry to that. And I feel emotions, probably, that I felt, like, inside, like my mom and grandmother — you know, because, like, what am I crying about right now? Like, I’ve been here reading books and stuff. Like, I have no life experience, but I’m feeling these emotions. “Care for me. Care for me.” My God. Yeah. So I feel like that album really, like, changed my life. Also, Queen Natalie Cole. My mom used to play her for me all the time.
Your next project, Rogue, comes out next month. What can we expect?
So as far as Rogue being an EP, as artists, I think we all have a different way that we have to flow. We kind of have to see what works. And honestly, I’ve got songs that I’ve recorded since we announced the album/EP because “Pink Lotus” was doing so well. So, we just sat on it for a second instead of dropping all the songs. So I’m not sure if it’s going to be called Rogue because I’m adding more songs that are so different from what the original Rogue EP felt like.
What can you tell us about your upcoming single “So Unnecessary?”
So about a month from now, I’ll be releasing “So Unnecessary,” and Gene Noble will be on it, which is so cool. So, I recorded with Nephew in LA. Then, Gene received the song, and he added his parts. The complicated arrangements and the vocal arrangements in the backgrounds and the harmonies — everything he did on it — it’s so good to have somebody I can learn from on my own song. Like, he killed it. And I don’t even feel bad that he washed me up; it’s, like, please teach me on my song. It’s fine. Like, I’ll go with you. He did such an amazing job. Also, he has like five octaves; Gene’s range is insane. Like, he can sing anything. It’s crazy. So, you will hear it on my song.
