Sketches of a Soulman

Neo-Soul's one-man-band man, Grammy nominated artist Dwele, sits in the lobby of the internationally renowned Palmer Hilton hotel in the heart of Chicago’s Loop. A photographer revolves around him, snapping pictures as the grounded West Detroit native gets interviewed by a young writer. Five wealthy looking elderly women on a couch across from them watch the interview, noticeably excited. People lounging throughout the ritzy lobby, as well as those scurrying to and from the room direct their stares towards the mellow, unfazed crooner.

Down to earth by default, Dwele is all eye contact and genial grins. He is without the hyperbolic bravado of more than a few artists in the music industry, and luckily for this reporter, Dwele approaches the interview like it's a casual (but in depth) conversation with a homeboy. His passion and candor shine in his words as well as through his music.

On June 24 he dropped his third studio album, Sketches of a Man, a creative brew of jazzy R&B infused with a hip hop sound. After a switch from Virgin Records to indie heavyweight Koch Entertainment, Dwele is generating a significantly different sound than what he presented on his first two major releases, Subject (2003) and Some kinda (2005).

"I think Subject had more of a soul feel. Some Kinda was more of a jazz type of feeling, and this one has more of a hip hop undertone; although, it still has those jazz elements in it because that's who I am," Dwele explained.

Dwele is looking forward to flexing his artistic muscle. Departing from Virgin and signing with Koch has put the creative reins in his hands.

"I felt I could have had a little more creativity this time around by being with a major independent label. I think I have a lot more creativity. I had a lot more input on the actual packaging of the project, as well as musically. I'm going to try to do different things. Shake it up a little bit." he said.

According to Dwele, leaving Virgin rather than renegotiating at the end of his deal was a strategic no brainer, a move that makes sense given his unique musical skill set.

"I just think it was time to move on. Being my own producer, my own writer, I keep everything in house. So it really didn't really make sense for me to be with a major label, because I'm doing everything myself." Dwele related.

Coveting his silk-smooth vocals, artists such as Common, Kanye West, and hip hop ensemble Slum Village , have collaborated with Dwele on numerous tracks. Dwele credits one such collaboration, Slum's 2002 hit single "Tainted", with jump-starting his career.

"They made it possible for me to really put an album out. Prior to that, I don't think virgin knew how to handle it," he claimed.

Dwele has also been featured on tracks with Cormega, J-Dilla, Foxy Brown, Bahamadia—to name a few. Contrary to what some people might assume, he is capable of so much more than soulful, hauntingly infectious hooks that compliment an emcee. Dwele is an authentic R&B talent and a strong artist in his own right.

Dwele doesn't foster any bitterness from the possibility that he’s seen as a one-trick pony by some mainstream music fans.

“I think it’s all a process, and part of the fun is getting there. I'm still in the process of getting there. I'm enjoying myself, I'm enjoying my life. I'm out touring. I'm spreading the music and I'm bringing new people in all the time. It's a good thing. When people finally catch on and see what it is, it’s not like they can’t go and get the prior albums. So I'm cool where I am."

Despite his talents, Dwele hasn’t received the same mainstream success of other artists who heavily rely on club oriented music. The truth is many young people these days don't appreciate soulful R&B; a lot of kids would quickly bump Ashanti before they gave Vivian Green half an ear.

"I try to take a little bit of what’s popular, a little bit of what’s mainstream, and I mix it with some of that real music. Some of that soul music," Dwele said. “When you do that you kind of open up younger ears that otherwise wouldn't listen to straight up soul music."

In the last few years there has been so much conversation about the state of hip hop, yet people have overlooked the fact that R&B is more creatively stagnate and commercially driven than it has been in the past. After being asked for his thoughts on the state of R&B, Dwele had this to say:

"The state of R&B? I feel like R&B is covering a lot of different levels right now. You got your club R&B with cats like usher holding it down. Then you got your soul R&B, I guess you would call it," Dwele said. "I think it's good but I think it could be better. It seems like more of the club R&B is getting more play than the soul R&B."

Characteristically optimistic, he added: "I think it's definitely going to come around. You have more artists leaning towards live musicianship."

With numberless fresh faces itching to step into the music industry, the trail to triumph can be thorny. Dwele has had true life experience with being an unsigned artist on the grind. He recorded his demo, Rize, in his bedroom and sold copies of it out of his car before signing with Virgin.

" All you have to do is make it happen and just do it for the love. If you do it for the love; then, whatever is supposed to happen, there will be the right time for it." Dwele said, offering advise to aspiring entertainers.

Despite his apparent optimism, Dwele has had to deal with his share of doubts and dark clouds. Despite signing with Virgin in 2000, his career didn’t jump off the launching pad until two years later.

“I was just sitting for two years. I really started thinking to myself ‘was this the right move for me?’ I was kind of making moves of my own, and not signed with a label. Then I signed with a label and I was sitting. I was stagnate."

There are hoards of unsigned artists out there with utopian expectations. They picture themselves signing a record deal, speedily attaining fame, releasing numerous top ten hits, and living the life of an icon. The music biz is much more distressful than they understand, and the truth is that everyone can't measure up to all demands and expectations.

Despite the tribulation that fame can bring, Dwele continues to fight the good fight. He is innovative in a game where individuality often comes with a cost. Literally. He may not sell as much as some artists who sing about sex at the bar—but he's making good music.