After opening for the funk band Sammy Rae &The Friends on the last night of their North American tour, it has become clear that independent artist DAMOYEE has cultivated a diverse and enthusiastic following during her past three years at Berklee College of Music.
The 21-year-old multi-hyphenate artist started her set with a guitar solo and her entrance in a sequin corset dress. The room was filled with adoration for DAMYOEE.
Opening acts tend to be less intriguing for fans and usually lead to a smaller audience, but it was found to be the opposite for DAMOYEE. The room was swarmed with supporters of both acts. The sold-out show was shown to be a love letter to both DAMOYEE and Sammy Rae & The Friends, which was truly heart-warming.
The performance portrayed a balance of instrumental musical talents while also showcasing her powerful but gentle vocals. As she is a multi-instrumentalist accompanied by a full band of horns and strings, the sound was unique and encouraged an immense amount of crowd participation. The young, quirky audience was eager to listen and dance to this modern take on R&B.
DAMOYEE performed her set with genuine joy and pure gratitude. She expressed interest in the audience, continually asking how they were feeling and encouraging them to participate, which was easily reciprocated. It was clear that her listeners appreciated the personality in the show as they smiled and danced with undivided attention.
Her consistent talent did not hesitate to keep the listeners on their toes as she went from a wispy, gentle tone accompanied by a flute and violin to an intense vocal run with a full horn section in tune with her, especially during her performance of “Crush” from her album, “The Whole Truth.”
DAMOYEE played a variety of her song selection, from her first song ever written, “One Day,” to an unreleased surprise. Her style went from a “surf vibe bop” to “travel[ing] back in time.” Her sweet new tune, accompanied by a ukulele, allowed for a dip into a women-empowerment moment as her lyrics exclaimed her adoration for women’s independence and equality. This message is not foreign for her as she has been expressive about her activism throughout her career.
The singer’s following was largely accumulated through TikTok, which provided both musical and activist content, especially during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. She was chosen to participate in a program called “Tik Tok for Black Creatives,” which is used to amplify Black creators. This resulted in multiple musical composition and performance opportunities, while also promoting her original work.
DAMOYEE was born in Dallas, where she began pursuing music at just two years old when she started to learn the piano and music composition and theory. She released three projects, an EP and two albums, between the ages of 13 and 19, which earned her a well-deserved full scholarship to Berklee to start her higher education in film scoring.
She began her career in the Boston area by playing at local venues such as Club Passim and the Red Room, which resulted in her booking a show at the Royale.
It is truly rare to find young musicians who obtain such a sense of self-awareness, gratitude and confidence in the way that DAMOYEE portrays. She is transparent and communicative about her values and reflections, which creates a level of trust between her and her fan base.
Her lyrics and instrumentals are raw and authentic and, paired with her collaborative efforts with her band, has created a safe and enjoyable space for her listeners.
Check out DAMOYEE’s music on her website www.damoyee.com.
