Deem Spencer is a musician/rapper from Jamaica, Queens. His music is melodic, dreamy and emotive ranging from barred out verses to rambling harmonies all tied together by Deem’s ability to tell heartfelt stories. His discography is unapologetically and unmistakably a reflection of his being. Deem started his following in the most grassroots organic way possible. He would produce events and invite artists to perform alongside himself in New York. The events started to gain traction and became a creative movement. Eventually people began to come to the events to see him perform more than anything else. Even with millions of streams and a dedicated fan base Deem said he feels like his music is still a secret between him and his fans.
Deem welcomed me into his home studio to photograph and connect about his process. Deem is a quiet subdued soul with a lot to say. His intention and intelligence both in relation to his music and his demeanor was apparent in our time together. He almost always makes music alone and inside his home. He expressed how much his solitude is woven into the fabric of his artistic approach and overall output. He doesn’t want fully polished perfectly produced music that studio teams usually deliver, he would rather make his music with minimal input to keep the raw sounds of his expression. Deem has been reading a lot lately to stay inspired. Recently picking up James Baldwin, Kurt Vonnegut, and has been especially inspired by Dick Gregory’s story. Deem spends a lot of time on his roof. He said he used to sit looking at back yards and trees but now he sits facing the city. We spoke about how this symbolizes his transition from a comfortable peaceful thought process to an aspirational overwhelming view of the city.
Each of Deem’s projects has advanced organically, slowly transformed by his circumstances and progressing emotions. He approaches each project with a theme and title in mind. Eventually changing titles and growing into the projects we are familiar with today. Pretty Face and We Think We Alone were melancholic projects as a result of his grandfather passing and an intense break up. His most recent project Deem’s Tape, originally intended to be named My Wife and Kids is a self reflective project that acts as “one last sigh of relief and gratitude before I charge toward the future I envision for myself.” This project was a deep dive into his formative memories and a manifestation of his future endeavours. Deem talked about embracing his fear of approaching music. How in turn he actualized his vision and avoided wallowing and seeping in his sadness. He asserted that his next projects will be a more positive musical expression, he feels as if people have interpreted him as a “sad” artist when in reality he has found solace, peace, and happiness over the years.
Thank you for having me in your studio/home.