Following the release of his highly anticipated debut album’s first single, ‘Overcome,’ which was championed by BBC Introducing, Sofar Sounds, Premier Radio, UCB Media, and Colourful Radio, among others. DIRE, a London-based British Nigerian singer-songwriter, returns in 2022 after a brief hiatus to re-calibrate, explore new sounds, and record his next project, with a brand-new song titled ‘Crushed’ serving as the second single off his impending debut album.
‘Crushed,’ written and performed by Dire, is elegantly weaved together with an intriguing arrangement that artfully reflects the emotional rhythms of the tale. When asked about the inspiration for ‘Crushed’, Dire expressed that the song “compounds a number of tough moments” in his life.
Dire’s adventure began in 2003 when he left Nigeria with the hope of bettering his life in the United Kingdom. As an immigrant in what he perceived as a potential but often hostile foreign country, Dire suffered periods of homelessness as well as a soul-crushing stint in a detention center with the prospect of deportation looming over his head. After the untimely and tragic death of his loving mother, Dire had reached “the lowest point of his life, with all hope almost lost.”
‘Crushed’ was inspired when reminiscing on these dark days. It captures how he managed to persevere and be thankful despite his difficulties during life’s transitions; a message that will resonate with people of all ages, whether you’re a teenager experiencing your first heartbreak or an elder who’s been through it all, has the scars to prove it, and still lives to fight another day.