Dewey Bryan - Beach Burners (Album) + 10 Questions
Picture Credit: Alister Mori
Dewey Bryan Drops Debut Album Beach Burners.
Visual artist turned rapper Dewey Bryan (also known as Dewey Saunders) has released his long-awaited debut album, Beach Burners, via Surf Art Records.
Best known for crafting artwork for the likes of Anderson .Paak, Future, Turnstile and Chronixx, Bryan now steps firmly into the spotlight with a project that captures his journey from cipher battles in Philadelphia to fully-fledged storytelling.
The record is produced entirely by DJ and beatmaker Earoh, whose hypnotic, sample-driven soundscapes provide the backdrop for Bryan’s smoked-glass delivery. Written over two years between Long Beach and Philly, Beach Burners blends hustler philosophies, romantic detours and late-night reflections, wrapped in a cinematic haze of break-ups, make-ups and 90s cable-TV textures.
Across 13 tracks, Bryan is joined by guests including lojii, Eligh (Living Legends), Chuck Inglish, Blu, and more, with mixing and mastering by Rick Friedrich (The Roots). The release is accompanied by a High Comfort capsule, a Coconut Dream candle, and a printed zine—pushing the album into lifestyle territory.
Dewey Bryan sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
My love for music came from my dads eclectic selections, racks of reggae tapes, dub, alternative rock - really a ton of reggae, that was just playing all the time as a kid in South Florida. I got into hip hop somewhere in junior high through skate videos, especially this older Plan B video at the time that featured lots of west coast hip hop like Del from Heiro.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
I’d love to do a project with Madlib or Kankick, those two are my favorite producers - also would be sick to link with Alchemist. Would be dope to make more songs with Chuck Inglish and The Cool Kids as a whole.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
We just released Beach Burners, a full length produced by Earoh. Featuring an assortment of legends and hometown heroes, with my smokey raps over Earoh glassed out production. BEACH BURNERS, its the soundtrack for tropical burnout. Easy listening for the end times.
Next up would be a remix album and a project with Calvin Valentine.
4. How would you describe your sound?
Its super smooth with a little beach sand in the mix. Its west coast and east coast. Chester Watson described the style as a Dusted Third Eye Dom Kennedy over Kenny G.
My style is heavily informed by east coast and west equally, with references to Mos Def, Pep Love, Roc Marci, Common, Black Thought, DOOM and my style is a combination of my heroes and the places Ive lived: South Florida, Philly, LA.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
Working with Anderson .Paak, Future and Turnstile on the visual side - and on the sonic side, collaborating with Blu, Eligh and Chuck Inglish on Beach Burners. Those are all rappers I grew up listening to so its pretty surreal to be on the level of collaboration. Its a dream come true to have released an album with so many of my idols.
Picture Credit: Alister Mori
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
Make music that really like, and you can perform for the next 5 years without hating! That part is tough, gotta make stuff that can age and stand the test of time.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
Owl Green, Gat$, Blvk H3ro, Kam DeLa, Drusef, Fabian Akilles, Lord Sko.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
New Roc Marciano w DJ Premier, Clipse, NxWorries - both albums, Mac Dre - The Genie of The Lamp.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Making art, so basically i’m always creating. I love to travel and take photos to capture life’s motion but making music might be my favourite thing to do so its really what I want to be spending most of my free time working on - art and music go back and forth for me.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
Bag of OG Kush, some reggae records and my pad and pen because I write my raps the og way!