Def Jam Signs Rising R&B Star Dende, Debuts New Song ‘The Louvre’

Def Jam continues to stockpile talent and revamp its legacy as a music powerhouse, as evidenced by their latest signing of Dende.

After an impressive run on the independent circuit, the Texas-bred star hopes to galvanize a label looking to expand its R&B division anchored by recent Grammy winners Muni Long and Coco Jones.

“I’m honestly just excited for the opportunity to showcase our talents on a bigger scale than ever before,” Dende tells Billboard. “Signing with Def Jam under Tunji does just that. I am ready for everyone to understand that Dende and his producer, Billy Blunt, are here to stay.”

In 2024, Dende garnered substantial fanfare from his two releases, Before We Crash and ’95 Civic. Earlier this year, he dropped his three-pack Wish You Were Here, nimbly tracing his journey in the U.K. and yearning for his lover back home. To mark his Def Jam signing, Dende unleashes his new song “The Louvre,” featuring Swedish GRAMMY-nominated artist LUCIIA. Co-produced by Billy Blunts and Maleík Loveridge, Dende’s adoration for his muse is displayed as he gushes about his real-life masterpiece.

“A muse is a word used to describe someone who brings inspiration to an artist. Our single “The Louvre” is about feeling like you don’t have any inspiration at all, creativity, or just going through your day happily and then finding that in someone else,” he says about the song. “LUCIIA and I got to connect in Def Jam’s studio in LA to make one of my favorite songs I’ve made in a long time. It’s a masterpiece.”

Listen to “The Lourve” below.