OVO Radio Episode 7 streamed on October 3, 2015, and 1 song lit the internets on fire: “With Me” by dvsn. A phenomenal modern r&b number with silky vocals gliding on top of hi-hat rolls, fuzzed-out guitar chords (probably reversed) and heavy bass work, Paul Jefferies AKA Nineteen85 (AKA the man behind Drake bombs “Hotline Bling,” “Truffle Butter,” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home”) quickly claimed credit as the producer behind the project, but no one knew who the hell the vocalist was. Until recently, sort of. After a ton of speculation, dvsn performed in March 19th, 2016 at The Fader Fort during SXSW. Plenty of facts point at Daniel Daley and backup singer Latoya Webley to be the remaining half, but nothing has OFFICIALLY been confirmed yet (remember when The Weeknd first came out?). But none of that really matters because the music speaks for itself. Some of the finest r&b numbers anchored but certainly tied to the past, with bare—bones-yet-irresistible production (in typical DRAKE-OVO fashion) and killer falsetto… Check out “The Line,” “With Me,” “Too Deep,” “In + Out,” and a personal favorite, “Hallucinations.”

• black double vinyl pressing
• music label: OVO Sound 2016

reviewed by donut savage 06/2016