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We say

Today’s Ones To Watch 2023 is south London’s dexter, the moniker of 19 year old artist Charmaine Ayoku. She first came to our attention in August last year when we featured her as one of our Compass artists the week of her debut EP, I Do Love a Good Sandwich, release. Her relatable storytelling, backed by a blend of hip-hop influenced beats, silky keyboard melodies and vibrant guitar licks, quickly showed that she was a young artist with bags of potential. Since then, she has experimented with more d’n’b and UK garage based beats on singles alongside her previous sounds, culminating in the release of her second EP, Fortune Cookie, which features this gorgeous ode. The Face, Hunger, Trench, Dork, Complex, Notion, Dummy and New Wave have all praised her music. At radio, Clara Amfo and Jack Saunders have been key supporters at Radio 1, alongside plays from BBC Introducing, 1Xtra, 6 Music and Apple Music 1. Plus, Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer have all featured her tracks on editorial playlists. Later this month (16 December), dexter will play a headline show at the Moth Club in London, having supported Fred again.. and Denzel Curry on tour. It’s been great to see dexter’s progression over the last eighteen months, and with her latest batch of addictive earworms proving that she is a talent, we can’t wait to hear what she has for all of us next year, making her one of our Ones To Watch 2023. 

Contact

Label: Natasha Shehata, AWAL
Radio: Andy Park, All Ears
Press & Online: Joss Meek & Rachel Campbell, Wired PR
Live: Mike Malak, Wasserman Music
Management: Kayode Adelaja