Dijon Duenas (born June 9, 1992), known simply as Dijon, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and multi-instrumentalist. Previously a member of alternative R&B duo Abhi//Dijon, Duenas began releasing solo material in 2017. After a string of singles and EPs, his debut studio album, Absolutely (2021) was released alongside an accompanying film. His second studio album, Baby, was released in August 2025 to critical acclaim.
A frequent collaborator of fellow singer-songwriter and producer Mk.gee, Duenas is also recognized for his work with Matt Champion, Charli XCX, Bon Iver, and Justin Bieber.
Duenas' accolades include nominations for two Grammy Awards at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, and Album of the Year for his work on Justin Bieber's album Swag.
Early life Duenas was born in Washington on June 9, 1992, to a Guamanian father and mixed-race mother of black, white, and Native American descent. His parents met in the United States military after the Gulf War, and their military status resulted in Duenas frequently moving as a child, having lived in Germany, California, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, and Washington. Duenas began making music at sixteen years old, while living in Washington. While a junior high student in Victorville, California, Duenas was discouraged from rapping after losing a rap battle to classmate and future actor LaKeith Stanfield. He attended University of Maryland, College Park, along with future bandmate Abhirath Raju, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English language and literature in 2014.
Music career
2012–2016: Abhi//Dijon Dijon's music career began as one half of the duo, Abhi//Dijon, which he formed with a high school friend, Abhirath Raju, while he was studying literature at the University of Maryland, College Park. Between 2012 and 2016, the duo released two EPs and one compilation. The duo released their last EP, Montana, in 2016.
2016–2021: Early solo work Duenas and Raju moved from Maryland to Los Angeles during the summer of 2016, and amicably disbanded shortly afterwards. He became a collaborator of hip-hop group Brockhampton, contributing backing vocals to Saturation II (2017). Later that year, he released his debut solo single, "Stranger". Also in 2017, Duenas co-wrote Brockhampton member Matt Champion's unreleased mixtape Mink, which leaked online in 2025. In July 2018, Duenas once again appeared as a backing vocalist on the Brockhampton single "1998 Truman". In September 2018, he released the single "Nico's Red Truck" alongside an accompanying music video. "Nico's Red Truck" was named the 35th best song of 2018 by Noisey. His first EP, Sci Fi 1, was released in 2019 and preceded by the singles "Cannonball" and "Drunk". Later that year, he released the singles "Good Luck" and "Crybaby".
In May 2020, Duenas' second EP, How Do You Feel About Getting Married?, was released. The same month, he was credited as a co-producer of "Pink Diamond", from Charli XCX's fourth album How I'm Feeling Now. In June, Duenas released an experimental project, Mothership Coming, under the pseudonym Lillith. Released exclusively on Bandcamp, proceeds from the project were donated to Black Woman's Blueprint, The Okra Project, the NAACP, Afrorack and Black Lives Matter LA. In December, he released the single "The Stranger", featuring John C. Reilly, Tobias Jesso Jr., and Becky and the Birds.
2021–2023: Absolutely
On September 17, 2021, Duenas released "Many Times", the first single from his upcoming debut album. The second single, "Rodeo Clown", was released on October 22. Absolutely, released on November 5, was entirely self-produced by Duenas alongside frequent collaborator Mk.gee. Absolutely was accompanied by a film of the same name, which features Duenas performing six tracks from the album, with backing from Mk.gee, Henry Kwapis, Brad Oberhofer, Ryan Richter, and Gabe Noel. Duenas made his television debut on The Tonight Show on January 27, 2022, performing "Big Mike's". On June 26, 2022, "Many Times" was featured on former U.S. president Barack Obama's 2022 summer playlist.
Duenas opened for indie folk band Bon Iver during two shows on their Spring 2022 tour, in Mesa, Arizona and Austin, Texas. In August, Duenas appeared as a guest performer on Kenny Beats' debut album Louie. In June 2023, Duenas, along with Clairo and Bartees Strange, supported Boygenius during the inaugural Re:SET Concert Series.
2024–present: Collaborations and Baby
In February 2024, Mk.gee released his debut studio album Two Star & the Dream Police, featuring production and songwriting by Duenas. Later that month, Duenas featured on "Aphid", the debut single by former Brockhampton member and Duenas' frequent collaborator Matt Champion, and the lead single from his first album Mika's Laundry. Duenas contributed heavily to the album, appearing as a songwriter and producer on seven tracks, including the single "Slow Motion", performed by Champion and Blackpink member Jennie. In October, Duenas contributed production and songwriting to Champion's single "Faye", from his first EP Slint's Favorite.
In April 2025, Duenas appeared as a featured artist on "Day One", from Bon Iver's fifth album Sable, Fable. That July, he produced and co-wrote several tracks on Justin Bieber's seventh album Swag, appearing as a performer on "Devotion" and a producer and songwriter on three other tracks, including "Daisies" and "Yukon", which peaked at numbers two and seventeen, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100.
On August 8, Duenas announced his second album, Baby. The album was given a tentative release date one week later, dependent on sample clearance. Baby was released on schedule on August 15, and received critical acclaim from publications including Clash, NME, Pitchfork, and Rolling Stone. Three days after the album's release, Duenas announced a tour of North America and Europe.
On September 5, Bieber released his eighth studio album, Swag II, again featuring production and songwriting from Duenas, including on the lead single "Love Song". Later that month, Duenas made his acting debut in Paul Thomas Anderson's film One Battle After Another, appearing alongside fellow musicians Teyana Taylor, Alana Haim, and Junglepussy.
Personal life Duenas is married to stylist Joanie Del Santo, who is frequently referenced in his music. A photo of their wedding appears on the cover of Baby (2025), named after the couple's son.
Discography
Studio albums +List of studio albumsTitleAlbum detailsAbsolutely Released: November 5, 2021 Label: R&R, Warner Formats: Streaming, digital download, LP, CDBaby Released: August 15, 2025 Label: R&R, Warner Formats: Streaming, digital download, LP, CD
Extended plays +List of extended playsTitleAlbum detailsSci Fi 1 Released: March 1, 2019 Label: Dark Green, R&R, Warner Formats: Streaming, digital downloadHow Do You Feel About Getting Married? Released: May 15, 2020 Label: Dark Green, R&R, Warner Formats: Streaming, digital download
Singles
As lead artist TitleYear Peak chart positionsAlbum USAAA"Stranger"2017 — rowspan="5" "Violence)" —"Skin"2018 —"Wild" —"Nico's Red Truck" —"Cannonball"2019 —Sci Fi 1"Drunk" —"Magic Loop" — rowspan="5" "Good Luck" —"Crybaby" —"Sweet Thing"2020 —"The Stranger" —"Many Times"2021 —Absolutely"Rodeo Clown" —"Coogie"2023 — "Yamaha" 2025 36 Baby
As featured artist TitleYearAlbum"Makeup" 2018Singles 2017–2021"Trust3000" 2019"On Me" Blurry"Sweet Summer Sweat" 2020Ephemera"Moonlit Breakers" 2023Moonlit Breakers"Aphid' 2024Mika's Laundry
Guest appearances +List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album nameTitleYearOther performer(s)Album"Rope Swing"2020Zach VillereCardboard City"Day One"2025Bon Iver, Flock of DimesSable, Fable"Devotion"Justin BieberSwag
Other credits +Songs credited on, with year, title, performer, credit received, and album listedTitleYearPerformer(s)Credit(s)Album"Summer"2017BrockhamptonAdditional vocalsSaturation II"1998 Truman"2018Songwriting, additional vocals"Ontario Sunshine"2019Foxes in FictionGuitarTrillium Killer"Pink Diamond"2020Charli XCXProduction, songwriting, synthesizer, drum programmingHow I'm Feeling Now"Giant Bat"WensProduction, songwriting, programmingGiant Bat and Sad Sad"Get Around"2022Kenny BeatsVocals, songwritingLouie"New Low"2024Mk.geeProductionTwo Star & the Dream Police"DNM"Production, songwriting"Gbiv"Matt ChampionSongwriting, additional productionMika's Laundry"Purify"Songwriting, background vocals"Code Red"Songwriting, background vocals"Aren't You Excited"Production, songwriting, background vocals"Everybody Likes You"Songwriting"Slow Motion"Matt Champion, JennieProduction, songwriting"Faye"Matt ChampionProduction, songwritingSlint's Favorite"Wait Up"MulherinProductionPaper and Plastic 02"Daisies"2025Justin BieberProduction, songwritingSwag"Yukon"Songwriting"Things You Do"Production, songwriting"Stay"Leith RossBackground vocalsI Can See the Future"Better Man"Justin BieberProduction, songwritingSwag II"Love Song"Production, songwriting"Witchya"Production, songwriting"Eye Candy"Production, songwriting"Bad Honey"Production, songwriting"Need It"Production, songwriting"Oh Man"Production, songwriting
Music videos TitleYearDirector(s)"Stranger"2017Taylor Clark"Nico's Red Truck"2018Danica Kleinknecht"Bad Luck"2019Jack Karaszewski"Crybaby""Do You Light Up?"2020Jack Karaszewski, Danica Kleinknecht "Rock n Roll"Jaxon Demme"Many Times"2021Jack Karaszewski
As Lillith
Mixtape +List of mixtapesTitleMixtape detailsMothership Coming Released: June 16, 2020 Label: Independent Formats: Streaming, digital download
With Abhi//Dijon Extended plays
Abhi//Dijon (2014) Stay Up (2015) Montana (2016)
Compilation
2014 (2015)
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2025 Grammy Awards Album of the Year Swag Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Himself
References