What better way to kick off the new year than by dropping new music? Singer Dende does just that with the release of his latest EP, Before We Crash. The nearly 20-minute release is the follow-up to 2021’s A Happy Man and features guest spots from Deante’ Hitchcock and Erykah Officer with production by Billy Blunt, Jacob Ray, Booq, Chaz X and Kasim Rizvi.
Dende most definitely has love on the brain as he spends the better part of the EP making his case for why he’s the only choice. He has his eye on a special someone on the opener “Sensually.” Despite admitting that his mother warned him against girls like her, he’s ready to throw caution to the wind and give her his all.
He continues to apply pressure on “Flowers.” The sexy ballad finds him promising to give her flowers and more if she just gives him a chance. Like on “Sensually,” he flexes his falsetto all over the song as he attempts to prove that chivalry is far from dead.
The Houston native clearly has Georgia on his mind with two out of six tracks on Before We Crash centering on the Southern state. He does his best to plan a meet-up in the Peach State, leaning heavily into his charisma and charm. The song’s hook borrows from Justin Bieber’s megahit, “Peaches,” as Dende sings, “Told her meet me out in Georgia / We can let the windows down ride ‘round while we listening to them songs that you can’t turn down.” Rapper Deante’ Hitchcock’s steamy verse sticks with the Georgia theme as the native promises that peaches won’t be the only thing eaten if given a chance.
Even with love on his mind, he still has to make a pitstop in Atlanta’s famed strip clubs on “Round Trip to Atlanta.” The first single from the EP still finds him in the mood for some loving as one dancer, in particular, catches his eye.
His quest to woo continues with the seductive “Please U.” Here, he trades verses with singer Erykah Officer as the two run down the list of ways they want to please their boos. Dende delivers a nod to his fellow Texans Destiny’s Child and their classic single “Say My Name” towards the song’s end.
Dende closes out the EP with “Better Than Him.” Once again, he pulls out all the stops to convince a special lady that he’ll treat her better than the next man. He released a short performance video for the single that was inspired by the classic radio scene from the 1989 film Say Anything. Like in the movie, Dende stands outside a window and makes his feelings known.
Before We Crash tells a story of love and lust from the perspective of a man unafraid of putting it all on the line. Dende utilizes his brand of “begging R&B” as he calls it to get the girl, implying in the same Instagram post that this chapter still might not have a happy ending. While it’s yet to be seen how this story is going to end, listeners can kick back and enjoy this sensual ride through the good times until the wheels fall off.
- Advertisement -Dende Before We Crash [Amazon][Apple Music][TIDAL]
