Dwele

Singer/songwriter and record producer Andwele Gardner – known professionally as Dwele – fell in love with music when he heard the soul music of Motown legends Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. The Detroit native began writing songs at the age of ten after his father was tragically murdered outside his home. Dwele often sites his father’s death as one of the biggest themes of his music and calls music his emotional therapy.

Dwele got the attention of local music heroes Slum Village and their producer J Dilla when he sold all one hundred copies of his self-made demo Rize, which he recorded in his bedroom in 2000. Dwele would soon find work as a featured artist with female rapper Bahamadia and R&B super group Lucy Pearl.

Dwele signed with Virgin Records and, in 2003, released his debut album, Subject, which hit number 108 on the U.S. albums chart. His most recent album, Greater than One, released in 2012, hit number thirty on the U.S. album chart, showing Dwele’s increase in popularity over the past ten years.

Dwele has worked with Kanye West on the popular tracks “Power” and “Flashing Lights,” and with various other popular hip-hop artists including Common.