Review: IAMDDB
- The vocalist who harmonises with Trap and Hip-Hop beats, IAMDDB, is in Manchester's new class of honest artists
At 20 years old she is a songwriter, producer and has performed for the President of Angola, most recently IAMDDB’s track ‘Leaned Out’ with fellow Mancunian and producer Inka was played on BBC 1Xtra.
Proud of her alternative style she said; “I love harmonies and I feel like the UK is lacking that vibe, I’m really proud of our music, but I don’t see people doing different music, who just want to have fun with it”.
IAMDDB defines her genre as Urban Jazz, saying that Jazz is a big influence is her life. After traveling to Angola with her father and performing at the national jazz festival there, she also performed in front of the president. Some influences in her sound are said to be artists such as African jazz player Jimmy Dludlu, London artist Lianne La Havas and her father Manuel De Brito a saxophone player.
Her most recent release has been her track Panorama which she has just released the visuals for; "Panorama is just about good vibes and everything that's important to me. The way I do my videos it's very in the moment, just simple and real; I don't want to seem superior".
That this is a theme in the visuals to all of her tracks, whether she is jamming in a park like in her Leaned Out video or parading around Manchester City centre or at home with her friends; IAMDDB is truly herself.
Which is what she often sings about, constantly being yourself is something that she thinks others in the Manchester urban music scene lack. "In Manchester everybody is moving, they keep pushing forward and releasing stuff, which is great, but we need to stay on the path of fulfilling enlightenment. Not everyone is practicing what they preach, everything you do needs to be honest".
IAMDDB is proud of her city and what everyone in the music scene is doing for themselves, it's not easy being independent but she seems to be doing it right. Talking about her team she told me "I work with gang, all the visual designers, producers and digital designers they're all my friends. I have plans to work with professional distributors as well".
Collaborations are often the route to big things for independent artists, and IAMDDB has just recorded a song with Lenzman called In My Mind that is planned to be released early next year, "It sounds amazing, he's done two tracks for me and they're just mind blowing".
2017 is set to be a busy and exciting year for IAMDDB, with a performance with Redbull in January and a number of festivals booked in the U.K. and Europe. There are also plans to release a 6-track project coming soon.
Keep your ear to the ground for this homegrown talent and keep an eye out for IAMDDB making the rounds next year.