With so many outlets, labels and services, it's easy for new artists to get lost in the sauce. One newbie on the block who shouldn't have much of a problem catching your ear, though, is newcomer Josh Dean. Not only does he come with the clout of having two industry heavy hitters on his side (he's signed to LA Reid's Hitco Entertainment label and is managed by Janelle Monáe's Wondaland), but he's got a pretty fresh sound as well. He quietly dropped his debut EP Dear BlackSheepe this past March, but he's making a bigger splash with his debut music video "DropDead."
"DropDead" is all about Josh, who also has writing credits on Janelle's Dirty Computer, spotting a pretty young thing and the effect that feeling has on him. What's interesting is the sound of it all, though. There's definitely echoes of Michael Jackson in Josh's vocal delivery — with whoos and oohs galore. But the singer also mixes elements of pop, funk and soul into the mix, crafting a youthful sound and style that is all his own.
The video is also a mixture of different elements. We see Josh rocking it while partying with a few eclectic friends of different backgrounds. Speaking of backgrounds, we also see him in a few gorgeous settings — including a room decked out in colorful patterned tile reminiscent of what's found in Arabic mosques and a literal sea of people with Josh smack dab in the middle.
Based on what he shows us here and on his EP, we have a feeling that Josh Dean is just beginning what will hopefully be a long and fruitful career. Check out his smooth moves in "DropDead" below and stick around to stream his Dear BlackSheepe in full via Spotify.
