There’s more than a few powerful nayhoos behind Josh Dean. The singer-songwriter has a vibrancy about him that instantaneously puts anyone that is touched by him in a good mood. It’s what pulled him into Janelle Monae’s Wondaland orbit and a spot on Hitco’s roster. It’s also what makes his latest single, “Funny Valentine” so lovable.
The visuals for “Funny Valentine” are just as nostalgic as his interpolation (Sixpence None The Richer). Shot in black and white, Dean is all alone as he sings about the wonders of a cautious love. It’s almost insane to think Dean’s strong vocals weren’t heard until he accidentally left his vocals on an early recording of Jidenna’s “Classic Man.”
Dean, who was interning for Monae’s Wonderland as a graphic designer, was given a slot on the label’s roster as well as an opportunity to record his debut EP Dear BlackSheepe. Some might call it fate or mere coincidence but for Dean, this feels like destiny.
“When I first got to Wondaland as an intern, I was having a conversation with Mikael [Janelle’s manager] he was like, ‘People change once they get fame or famous.'” he tells VIBE. “I never want to change. I do want to be smarter, more of a seasoned singer, I want my connection with people to be stronger now than it is. In terms of who I am and the things that have shaped me, my foundation, I don’t want those things to change. I’m happy to be where I’m from, I’m happy to have been raised on a farm, I don’t think I would be the same person without it. I don’t want to step into this next phase of my life and feel like I couldn’t be myself.”
The Alabama native is a clear student of music. Thanks to his grandmother, Dean started at an early age. He was taught the importance of melodies in the church and continued to explore music in school. But shortly after his mother’s death, Dean moved to Florida with his father where he enjoyed the thrills of graphic design. That passion would lead him to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta to study Marketing and Computer Science. The power of graphic design also led him to an internship at Doppler Studios for Grammy-Award winning producer and songwriter, Bryan Michael Cox.
“I went one day and I sat in on this session they were working on, and I was amused by everything that I saw,” he said. By the end of the internship, Dean’s passions began to intertwine. “It reignited my pursuit of music again, it gave me more of a reason and hunger to not only be in [that environment] but I was sharing my gift at the time in order to be there.”
Dear BlackSheepe showcases this with an appreciation for pop-R&B and funk sounds, specifically on fan-favorite track “DropDead.” Like his influences (Prince, Michael Jackson) the singer has found a way to use upbeat grooves to heal painful memories.
“‘DropDead’ came from a sad place,” he said. “My uncle passed away before I recorded that song. I was afraid because the song doesn’t necessarily sound like that. [My family] all thought he was doing really great, but what we didn’t know and what he didn’t tell us, was [that he] was suffering from an illness. And one day he literally drops dead and my whole family was shocked by it.”
It’s hard to ignore the Jackson influence but it’s also easy to see Dean’s vision. The singer isn’t trying to emulate anyone other than himself.
“For so long in my life, I shied away from really just singing or having this connection with myself,” Dead admitted. “When I got to Wondaland I wanted to step outside of that box. The whole idea of Dear BlackSheepe is that. It’s a journey piece for me. Dear BlackSheepe is like, ‘Yeah we’re all different but we’re all alike and there are these things inside of us.'”
With his talents blending, he’s keen on how his music videos like “Funny Valentine” and “DropDead” will be perceived. Artsy but not overly provocative, his visuals prove just how much Dean is aware of his artistry.
“The video shoot for “DropDead” was also a release for me too because I had never performed like that,” he said. “I do it in front of my mirror all the time but it’s different once you’re performing in front of a camera. I learned so much that day about myself, about what I want to see on future sets of my music videos.”
It may be early in his career, but Dean is checking off many moments off his bucket list. This includes opening up for boss lady Janelle Monae later this month in New York.
“I’m just really grateful because I think back to four or five years ago, I was sleeping on Janelle’s couch in her studio,” he said. “When I stepped through the doors of Wondaland, I had no idea that five years from now I would be opening up for her. It’s amazing to see how so much growth has happened in that bit of time. It all went by so fast, time flew by. She’s my big sister and I’ve learned so much from her style of performance [just by] sitting on the side of the stage. I’m really excited to take a lot of what I’ve learned and put it on the big stage. This will be one of my biggest shows to date. I’m excited. I’m looking forward to it. I’m a little nervous, but the nervousness I think is a good thing.”
Josh Dean is still evolving, he’s still growing. He’s also a gem that can shine in today R&B space.
Stream DearBlackSheepe here.