Dikembe Unveils New EP, King, with Brilliant Animated Video for Title Track

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Dikembe Pushes Sound to New Heights with Grunge-Tinged King EP

Hailing from the legendary music scene of Gainesville, Florida—a city renowned for nurturing bands like Hot Water Music, Radon, Spoke and many more—Dikembe has solidified their place as key players in the modern landscape. Since forming around 2010, the band has masterfully fused the raw, driving energy of punk with the introspective, often complex structures of indie rock and Midwest emo. Their sound is characterized by gritty, heartfelt vocals, and intricate guitar work that dances between catchy melodic hooks and angular, math-rock sensibilities.

Dikembe's identity is deeply intertwined with the independent music ecosystem. While their early full-lengths, like Broad Shoulders, were released on respected labels such as Tiny Engines, their recent work, including the album Muck and the forthcoming King EP (2025), has found a home on Skeletal Lightning. They also famously released material through their own self-run effort, the Death Protector Collective, underscoring their commitment to the D.I.Y. ethos of the underground emo, punk, and hardcore world.

The band's members have notable links to other pillars of the community. Guitarist Andy Anaya is known for his work with You Blew It! and Pool Kids, and their frequent touring and split releases further solidify Dikembe’s role at the heart of the current, dare we say, "emo revival" movement.

Their latest output, the King EP, marks a creative evolution, pushing their sound into new areas in the best way possible. The official music video for “King” is an imaginative, mixed-media piece that features animation and art by the band's own vocalist/guitarist, Steven Gray. Scotty Swemba is credited with directing, filming, and editing the video, while Steven Gray was responsible for the creative direction and story. Josiah Lloyd provided additional artwork and Ant Verdi was responsible for process photography. This visual work provides an artistic, abstract lens through which to view their most emotionally heavy and poignant material to date. For a decade-plus, Dikembe has carried the torch for the genre, establishing themselves not just as a product of their Gainesville roots, but as one of the city’s most vital and enduring voices.

Follow Dikembe on Instagram at @dikembedudes