Dutchavelli - Bando Diaries

  • Published
    Sep 9, 2020
  • Words
    Resident Advisor
  • Released
    August 2020
  • Genre
  • UK drill with New York influences.
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  • At the start of 2020, Dutchavelli appeared on the scene with his breakout single "Only If You Knew," his husky voice and energetic delivery setting him apart from his drill peers who tend to sound more laid-back. The UK drill scene has seen a lot of other new artists come through, partly thanks to its rising popularity in the States with artists like Drake, Travis Scott and the late Pop Smoke hopping on the productions of young British producers like 808melo and AxlBeats. Dutchavelli seems to be one of the most popular among the new school of drill artists. "Only If You Knew" introduced a new style of drill to the UK, one that takes influence from New York in the way the musical focus is less about lyrical content and witty puns and more about sourcing energy to ignite mosh pits at live shows. Dutchavelli's new track, "Bando Diaries," begins with an eerie orchestral melody creeping into a distorted vocal sample, until the opening line: "I can tell you about bando diaries, I never done 419 or fraud." Dutchavelli doesn't waste time explaining the significance of the track title. He says that even in his life of crime he worked hard for what he had. My favourite lyrics are from the last two lines in the first verse: "If you was in my position, you'd be whippin' that raw, the richer get rich while the poorer get poor." Lines like this are particularly important to artists like Dutchavelli, since there has been a lot of debate in recent times on whether drill should be banned for its "glorification of violence," and here it's subtly explained that he isn't preaching what he practiced—instead he is reflecting on past decisions.
  • Tracklist
      01. Bando Diaries
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