Deema ft: Bawo - UK SYNTH (Single)
Peckham-born rapper Deema teams up with Bawo for his latest single "UK SYNTH" and announces his upcoming EP, "DOG WITH A £," slated for release in August. This is Deema’s third drop of 2024, following the buzzworthy singles "LILREDWHIP" and "BERRYGRAPE," which have left fans eagerly anticipating more. "UK SYNTH" is produced by Deema's long-time collaborator Dom Valentino (Unknown T, P-rallel, Greentea Peng) whose drum machine patterns set the perfect stage for Deema and Bawo to showcase their lyrical prowess. The video, directed by Ed Peacock, captures the essence of South London, depicting the relentless city life through CCTV footage of Deema and Bawo in various locations.
Deema’s musical journey began with his dad’s iPod, exposing him to artists like Skepta, Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, and Jamie T, which heavily influenced his sound. During his school years, Deema played drums and met his producer, Dom Valentino. Passionate about grime, Deema and his friends would write lyrics and freestyle, eventually catching the attention of Blakie, who invited him to perform on a radio show with his Lewisham-based grime collective, The Square. This pivotal radio performance launched Deema’s career, leading to gigs on Rinse FM, performances alongside BBK, and at Wiley’s Eskimo Dance and Reading Festival. Deema’s solo career took off with the release of "Chew Your Food" in 2020, featuring the fan-favourite track "Hash Brown," showcasing his lyricism and dynamic flow. His 2021 EP "Rainbow," produced by Grammy Award winner Venna and Dom Valentino, further cemented his reputation. In 2023, Deema released three more EPs, supported US rappers The Underachievers at The Garage in Highbury and Islington, and maintained a regular show at Balamii radio.
West London’s Bawo is one of the UK scene’s standout rising stars of recent years. His 2023 career-defining EP ‘Legitimate Cause’ catapulted him to the forefront of tastemaker consciousness, garnering support from The Guardian and playlist additions on BBC Radio 1Xtra. The release was shortly followed by his sold-out headline tour across the UK, showcasing that his talents stretch far beyond the studio booth as an exceptional live performer. With tens of millions of streams across his catalogue so far, his recent collaborations include the likes of Oscar #Worldpeace, Sam Wise, Ashbeck, ATRIP, and Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn.
Currently, Deema is evolving into one of the UK rap scene’s most respected voices, known for infusing his rhymes with humour and swagger. Described by Dazed as "perhaps the happiest rapper you’ll ever hear," Deema continues to grow artistically. With support from tastemakers like Dazed and Confused, NME, Clash Magazine, and Notion, the anticipation for his forthcoming EP "DOG WITH A £" is palpable. "UK SYNTH" stands as a testament to his ongoing artistic evolution and readiness to revolutionize the game.