R&B Duo THEY. is on the Rise

R&B Duo THEY. is on the Rise

California based artists Dante Jones and Andrew Neely (A.K.A “Drew Love”) are painting a fresh glaze over the R&B genre. Their unwinding infectious sound consists of raw vocals and authentic detailed bass heavy beats that are hinted with their signature guitar strums.

The producer of the group Dante Jones started experimenting with beats and instruments at an early age. He began to take music more seriously after completing college, and moved to LA where he met singer/songwriter Drew Love in the studio thanks to a mutual friend. Both artists started collaborating their distinctive sounds in the studio creating tracks where they displayed a musical chemistry which eventually lead them to form their group THEY.

THEY. first made their debut in the music industry in 2015 where they gained the attention and support of legendary producer Timbaland. In the same year, the duo released one of their most notable works which is the collaborative single “Working for it” with artists Zhu and Skrillex. The song is a blend of their delicate vocals where they repeat the lyrics “I’m working for it,” over a futuristic layered dance beat, as well as traces of their captivating guitar sound. The single gained success, and charted as number 30 in Australia, and number 71 in the UK. Their unique sound didn’t go unnoticed and also grabbed the likes of singer Bryson Tiller where they became his opening act for his 2016 Trapsoul Tour. 

In 2017, the duo reached new heights. They released their first album “Nü Religion: HYENA” which is a 14 song project that underlines their debut in the music industry. The album mirrors a brash and yet charming sound made up of ghostly vocals that are laced with a heavy guitar and innovative beats that adds a dark element to the album. The project was well acclaimed, and helped lead them to bring their music to life at the annual music festival Coachella that same year. 

THEY. has made it clear that their sound is nothing to play with, and have gained the respect of many artists. In 2018, they embarked on the era of “Fireside” which is a collaborative EP with huge R&B artists such as Jeremih and Ty Dolla $ign, and well known rappers such as Wiz Khalifa and Vic Mensa. The EP highlights their signature dark guitar-based sound but this time sprinkled with a trap/rap undertone.  

Lately, the duo has embraced their collaborative side and has worked with artists such as Tinashe where they revamped her summer hit “Hopscotch.” They fueled even more heat to the song adding a guitar instrumental and bass heavy beat. They also collaborated with her for their single “Play Fight” which capitalizes on a lighthearted summer friendly sound. The duo has continued to supply fans with fresh singles that includes features from rappers such as Wale and Juicy J, and eventually released their second album “The Amanda Tapes” in October of this year. 

There is no ceiling to their drive in the music industry, and it seems like they are traveling high speed to success. In an interview with Red Bull, Dante Jones mentions the need to inspire others through music. “If I want to throw 808s, guitars and trap beats over 6/8 [time signature], that’s what I’m going to do,” said Jones. “If you want to be a painter one day, a director the next day, whatever it is — I just want to inspire people … You can do whatever you want, be whatever you want. Especially in these times, there’s a lot of uncertainty, it’s dope to become a part of a bigger movement, and that’s what I’m kind of hoping people can find in our music.”