Meet The Rising R&B-Hip Hop Vocalist Deno
You will more than likely recognise the London born artist, Deno. As well as being part of a musical duo with fellow UK rapper AJ, called AJ x Deno, the soon to be 17-year-old singer/rapper has already had a plethora of hits. These include ‘London,’ ‘Pumpy,’ and ‘Advice (Dele Alli)’ featuring alongside the late Cadet, all of which amounts to 100 million global streams and 100 million YouTube views. The soulful young singer gained massive attention after his cover of Geko’s ‘Over and Under’ instantly went viral on Instagram in 2016.
Since then he has worked with the likes of Stormzy, as well as putting his acting skills on show appearing in the cult miniseries ‘Shiro’s Story’ & Idris Elba’s debut TV show ‘In The Long Run.’ Elba has praised the young artist for his music particularly for a track he did as part of Mixtape Madness’s ‘Next Up?’ series on YouTube.
Now ready to further build upon his success, Deno is taking things seriously as a solo artist in the game with a sleuth of singles including his track ‘Changes’ featuring fellow UK rapper DigDat and his debut EP Eye 2 Eye. With features from other artists, including Krept, Jay 1, and Canadian rapper Lil Berete, the EP is definitely a record that needs to be on everyone’s radar.
We had the opportunity to chat with Deno and ask him about what motivates him as an artist as well as his debut EP, here’s what he had to say…
What inspires you to make music?
I like music, always have, I’ve been listening to a lot of music from young so that influenced me to make music and I like to talk about things like my background, where I grew up, what’s around me, that type of stuff when I make music.
When did you become aware of your voice and was that influential on you going into music?
My older sister used to ALWAYS sing at home so I just started copying to be honest lol, my family would always tell me I was good and I used to sing here and there at school and even try rap a bit. When I went into secondary school people were slowly finding out I could sing and word got around so everyone would just wanna post on me on their snapchats, one went viral and that’s how I got here.
‘Change’ is a very personal song, what does it mean to you?
Yeah Change is a song with a lot of meaning behind it, it’s just a song that tells you no matter what u go through or how you grew up type of thing, you can still do big things.
What advice would you give to other young artists out there wanting to break into music?
Just keep working to be honest, it might seem very hard at times but you just can’t stop.
What was the process like collaborating with the other artists featured on your EP?
The artists who feature on my EP are artists that I listen to, one being DigDat that everyone knows already from the single I just released. I would just hit up who I thought the song would suit feature wise, we got in and just got working.
Can you tell us the reason behind the name of your EP Eye 2 Eye?
The meaning behind it is when people see “eye to eye” they see the same thing/vision – I don’t. I’m different.
What has it been like working with Idris Elba and can we expect to see you in the next season of ‘The Long Run’?
Working with Idris is sick, he’s someone that I’ve been watching from young as well, great actor, very humbled to have been able to work with him.
Which music artist would you like to collaborate with right now?
Ouuu, working with DaBaby would be mad, I’m really feeling his music right now he’s hard! Out of the UK rap scene I feel Dave’s vibe, D Block Europe’s, Aitch’s and others which I think could be a couple cold collaborations. Also collaborating with Ella Mai would be crazy, her music is so good.
Can you name three artists that influence your music the most?
I’m influenced by what I listen to especially at a current time but whilst growing up it would be Drake, Chris Brown and The Weeknd.
With the recent release of your debut EP, can we be expecting an album in the future?
You’re 100% gonna get an album from me.. when I feel the times right. Making a album you gotta put your all into it especially if it’s your debut and it takes a long period of time to work on but once you feel like it’s time and you got the material for it then it’s a go.
Make sure to check out Deno video for his track Change featuring DigDat below!
