Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
For DRU, the April 2015 release of “Déjà Vu” represents both a fresh start and a return to his roots. Co-written with Jimmy Burney (Big Time Rush, Cliff Richard) and Kuya Productions (Akon, Ginuwine), and produced by Toronto’s Bass Line (Dj Khaled, JRDN), the single’s old-school R&B feel may sound like a departure compared to his previous work. “But, unconsciously,” he says, “I brought the vibe of the music I grew up on into it; funk and soul like The Commodores, Manhattans and Kool and the Gang.”
The Toronto-based, R&B/Soul artist’s previous releases have always been firmly rooted in R&B, but the seamless mix of up-tempo funk, vintage soul and cutting edge pop on “Déjà Vu” showcases DRU’s versatility as an artist and performer, as never before. Spare but powerful, it’s a track that’s definitely cutting edge current, but underpinned by Michael Jackson-esque vocals and hooky string lines that are a definite nod to classic 1970s disco and the deep funk of seminal artists like George Clinton.
It’s also a track that the JUNO Award winning singer/songwriter says reflects his growth and his identity as an artist more honestly than ever before.