Grammy-nominated producer Jack Dine was born in the Bronx, but the West Coast has been integral to his growth as a musician. Dine, who’s also a sound engineer, has worked with the likes of Stormzy, Christian Kuria, Mac Ayers, and the late Ronnie Spector, but he’s made an impact in R&B working in tandem with Los Angeles-born singer, Alex Isley.
The pair have released two projects together: the 2019 EP Wilton and the 2022 album Marigold. Dine’s work with Isley is also why we featured them in SCENES: SoCal Soul, an installment of our original docuseries which looks at emerging subcultures in music.
SCENES examines budding communities of artists and fans who are guiding where music and culture are headed around the world. SoCal Soul is more a collection of artists united by their shared love of R&B music and commitment to upholding its tradition than a distinct sound, but California has a robust history with the genre. That includes producers, and Dine’s contributions are helping to propel R&B music from Southern California (and beyond) forward. Some will argue that R&B music has lost its essence or lost its way in general, but R&B music is still very much present and among the most influential music currently being created.
Timeless is the best word to describe Dine and Alex Isley’s work together. On Marigold, Dine’s mellow production sets the table for Isley’s smooth vocals. “Still Wonder,” which features Grammy-nominated producer and multi-instrumentalist Robert Glasper, mixes subtle percussion and faint keys while Isley reminisces about a past love.
During our interview with Dine, he said he recognized something special about Isley the very first time he heard her voice.
“I heard her singing this old jazz standard and I felt that same connection listening to Stevie Wonder and Al Green as a kid…"
"...to this day, I still feel like our creative chemistry is pretty unmatched. It’s something I chase with everybody I work with, but it doesn’t always come that naturally.”
In addition to appearing in SCENES: SoCal Soul with Alex Isley, Dine also had a hand in its creative process, crafting the string-led intro and trumpet-driven outro. Whether working in lockstep with rising stars like Isley or crafting soundtracks that capture the perfect mood, Dine has shown that R&B music is in highly-capable hands whenever he’s behind the boards.
Listen to Jack Dine on SoundCloud, and checkout our SoCal Soul playlist for more R&B.
WATCH SCENES: SOCAL SOUL
Credits: Directed by C.T. Roberts. Portraits by Ira Chernova. BTS by 70mm.
.png)
