PREMIERE: Take An Exclusive Peek at Dessireé's New Video To Her Single ‘Duality’

South London Songstress Dessireé returns with her latest sultry single 'Duality', which is taken from her forthcoming EP ‘Tell Me Y’.

Photography by Salome Trezise

Still on a wave from her 2020 release ‘Peppermint Tea’, Dessireé's honey-textured tone has grown to be instantly recognisable and her vocal performance is an experience that you can’t help but sink into. ‘Duality’ is Infused with her rich melodic display and controlled runs that are reminiscent of the afrobeats star Tiwa Savage. Then comes the lyrics, she tells the story of finally realising her worth and allowing herself to walk away from the type of love that she doesn’t deserve even as she faces internal turmoil through this process of self healing and growth.

The production, pieced together by South London’s self-taught producer, Emil Larbi, sits at a cross between afrobeats and Neo Soul. Dessireé is known for bringing the sounds of her heritage and various influences into the UK scene, introducing a fresh vibe for us to take in. The afrobeats inspired rhythm, the steady bassline and the occasional piano motif to accompany her verses all add another layer of texture to the track.

Shot by 33BOUND and styled by Haruna Jebak, the video also showcases the singer’s elegance which is inspired by old-world, vintage glamour. The storyline of the track mirrors that of the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra as she presents herself as a woman who has it all but deep down lacks the thing she desires the most - which is love. The video was also directed by London based visual storyteller, Kemi Anna

In the entire EP she explores her many layers and alter-egos with the intention to remind black women of their freedom to take whatever form they choose and to always remain authentic in their self expression. Sharing some thoughts on the EP, she says: ‘Duality is the condition of being dual; the contrast and opposition between two concepts. At the time of writing, I felt at dual with myself. On the one hand, I recognised what I deserved, who I was at my core and what was best for me romantically. On the other hand, I found myself feeding into a negative form of love, unconsciously not recognising my worth, therefore accepting a toxic and unfulfilling love that benefited the men I was dating and not me.’

Dessireé has evolved from the DIY bedroom aesthetic to a more refined and self-assured sound; her journey is not one to miss out on as she continues to reach new creative heights. To celebrate the release of this single, New Wave are premiering the video exclusively on our platform for you to watch below.