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β€œBeing a Sierra Leonean is not a marketing strategy, it’s who I am.”

From Sierra Leone to Maryland, Deblyn is building a sound that carries home wherever it travels. Moving fluidly between Afrobeats, dancehall, pop and Krio fusion, the independent artist refuses to flatten her identity, or her music, to fit neatly into one box.

In conversation with Upper, Deblyn reflects on funding her career herself, the loss that gave her the courage to pursue music, and the balance between vulnerability and strength that makes her a self-described β€œgangster in a dress.”

She also speaks about Sierra Leone’s place within the wider African music industry, the importance of creating a distinct international lens, and her determination to remain unmistakably herself as her audience grows.

Read the full interview, β€œGangster in a Dress: Deblyn on Sierra Leonean Identity, Independence and Versatility,” now on the Upper website.

Words by @bomithesinger
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