dvsn: Use Somebody
The Kings of Leon hit is given an R & B makeover with soulful vocals and crisp production.
By Kerry Doole
dvsn - Use Somebody (OVO Sound/Warner Records): 2020 was a breakthrough year for Toronto R&B duo dvsn. Released back in April, the pair's third album, A Muse in Her Feelings, was a critical hit, making year-end lists as one of the best albums in 2020 by UPROXX, Noisey, Complex, Rated R&B, and more. It featured star-heavy guest appearances from Future, Ty Dolla $ign, Jessie Reyez, PartyNextDoor, Buju Banton, and others.
In December, dvsn (comprising vocalist Daniel Daley and producer Nineteen85) was awarded its first pair of gold certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the songs Too Deep and Think About Me. The first track is lifted from their debut album, Sept. 5th and the latter is from their sophomore album, Morning After. On the streaming side, Too Deep has been played over 51 million times on Spotify, while Think About Me has over 80.4 million listens on the streaming platform.
Later this month, dvsn will release a deluxe edition of A Muse in Her Feelings, entitled Amusing Her Feelings, and featuring brand new material. That includes Use Somebody, described in a label press release as "a cover re-imagining alt-rock trio Kings of Leon’s hit song of the same name as well as their 2008 smash Sex On Fire.
The track is certainly reimagined, with the brawny rock ballad given an R & B makeover. Daley's vocals are typically soulful, and a neat guitar figure is a highlight of the production.
Links
Publicity: Yash Zadeh | Warner Records
Aya NakamuraMarion Gomez/Billboard France