Ricky Dietz

2009 was Peter Fox’s year. Alles neu came out, then Haus am See and Schwarz zu blau from Stadtaffe, and he basically proved you could make something genuinely interesting happen in Berlin around R&B and Dancehall and Afrobeat. Never softened it, never played it safe.

Then he and Sway Clarke—Canadian R&B singer, Jamaican roots, worked with John Legend and Tini Stoessel—started a band called Ricky Dietz. It’s a perfect pairing in a way that’s kind of funny. Peter had been looking to hand off the vocals, find someone with actual chops to sing in English so he could just produce. Clarke had the voice and the songwriting but no interest in running the production side himself. Two guys too focused or too tired to run the whole operation solo, so they found each other. Was always going to happen in a city this size.

Their first single is Lemonade Drip. It’s solid. I’m curious what direction they take it. Part of me wants another Stadtaffe—something raw and immediate—but I also get why he’d want a partner on this one. Easier to justify the work. Less like you’re holding up the whole weight by yourself.