Samuel Joseph Dew is an American singer and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois.[2] As a recording artist, he is best known for his 2022 song "Savior" (with Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem) and his guest appearance on Wale's 2013 single "LoveHate Thing", both of which entered the Billboard Hot 100.[3] His songwriting work has been credited on albums for Taylor Swift, Marsha Ambrosius, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Miguel, Zayn Malik and Jessie Ware, among others.[4]
He signed with RCA Records to release his debut extended play, Damn Sue (2015). His debut studio album, Moonlit Fools (2021) was met with critical praise.[5]
Dew is originally from Chicago, Illinois. His music style has been compared to other singers with a wide vocal range.[2] He performed with the Atlanta-based band Cloudeater through 2013 and the release of their final album, Purge.[6] Dew began writing music and has since penned for musicians including Marsha Ambrosius, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, and Jessie Ware.[4] Dew's first song of his writing career was "Lotus Flower Bomb" for rapper Wale.[7] The song eventually topped Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[8] Dew is also the co-writer for Skrillex's 2014 single "Stranger", from the album Recess.[9] The song also appeared in the soundtrack for the 2014 film Divergent.[10]
Dew co-wrote and performed the hook to Wale's single "LoveHate Thing", from his 2013 album The Gifted. The song peaked at number 89 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, as well as number 30 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 25 on Billboard's Rhythmic chart. The song was also nominated for a 2013 Soul Train Music Award for best collaboration.[11] One of his most notable collaborations came in December 2014 with the release of Shell Shock, a collaboration with Dave Sitek and vocalist Alice Smith in reaction to the death of Eric Garner.[12]
In 2015, Dew signed with RCA Records.[13] He wrote the hook for Wale's 2015 song "The Matrimony", performed by featured singer Usher. He also wrote and sings the hook on British producer Julio Bashmore's track "Holding On".[14] His debut EP, Damn Sue, produced by TV on the Radio member Dave Sitek, was released on April 7, 2015.[5][14] That same year, he contributed vocals on the Prefuse 73 EP Forsyth Gardens.[15]
In 2017, Dew co-wrote Taylor Swift and Zayn's single "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" with Swift and Jack Antonoff. In August of that year, Dew released the singles Runner" and "Remember".[16]
In 2019, with fellow producers and frequent collaborators Jack Antonoff and Sounwave, Dew formed the musical trio Red Hearse. Their self-titled debut studio album was released in August of that year.[17]
On February 26, 2021, Dew released his debut studio album Moonlit Fools.[18]
In 2022, Dew guest performed on Kendrick Lamar's album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, co-wrote with Taylor Swift on her album Midnights, and worked with Joji on his album Smithereens.