By: Nadya Barghouty

There’s something refreshing about a group of individually successful and talented musicians coming together to make good music. DNM (pronounced “denim”) is a Minnesota based four-piece with indie, R&B, and even hyperpop influences. Made up of DeCarlo Jackson, Naél Fikru, Moise Igeno, and Joey Hays, DNM started out as friends just jamming. They never really intended to become a band but, rather, have fun and maybe even make some songs. Their new single “BLEW IT,” released on April 26, is not just some song. Produced by Lupin (of Hippo Campus) and mixed by Caleb Heinz, “BLEW IT” has rhythmic synths reminiscent of late BROCKHAMPTON and a funky bass line like that of Blood Orange.

By attempting to write about how DNM fluidly moves between the boundaries of various genres, I am only now just realizing how unique their sound is. The Twin Cities indie music community is intertwining and defining this new sound together. Each artist or group has their own core identity like indie, alternative, R&B, and even hip hop, but then they’re layered and produced in a way that makes the songs much more eclectic. By mixing all of these genres together, the songs are given a newfound depth and feel special. Along with DNM, bands like Why Not and Hippo Campus, or solo acts like Papa Mbye, are at the forefront of the Twin Cities sound. DNM first released the chill, poppy single “SHINY” last June, followed by their summer-y, alternative “FALLING OUT” in December, and now they’ve shown us more of their emotional side on “BLEW IT.”

“BLEW IT” has everything you need, from indie guitar to R&B harmonies. The song begins with Moise singing, lamentingly, “I really blew it / I fucking knew it.” This sets the tone for the whole song: recollections of a relationship gone astray. Three out of the four members sing on the track, but no single voice is overpowering. Each voice comes in, says their piece, and welcomes the next voice on their way out. It’s as if each member played a part in the relationship and collectively messed it up. DeCarlo recalls, “I miss how we were moving,” while Naél remembers, “We got so far.” Beyond the vocals, each instrument is connected while still maintaining a certain individuality. Heavy, grounding percussion and melodic indie guitar are brought together by a strong bass line present throughout the song. Although the song is sad, it’s anything but slow and still. DNM really captured the feeling of nostalgia tinged with regret. You can be in your feelings, without exactly bawling your eyes out.

In an interview with Minnesota public radio station The Current, Naél says:

“In today's streaming day and age, you put out six, seven songs, people might only listen to one or two, and then the rest of it is kind of overlooked. We really like each one of the songs that we've made, so we want to make sure that we give them all their due.”

“BLEW IT” deserves its time in the spotlight and then some. DNM is an independent group dedicated to making good, fun music and spreading it organically. We are so excited to see how DNM grows through their music and the fans they will gather along the way.