In 2020, Dave Wilson began releasing music as Emba, his solo drum-and-bass project, after Dexcell went its separate ways. Wilson had spent more than a decade as one third of the trio, whose members parted after more than ten years together. Before going solo, he released music as part of Dexcell; as Emba, he works as a producer and DJ. Wilson is based in Hertfordshire, and his music has been associated with soulful, musical and liquid drum and bass.
Wilson’s first Emba single appeared in March 2020, and he put out new music monthly through that year and for much of 2021. “Galaxy”, made with Philippa Hanna and BCee, was the first track he completed as a solo artist. BCee encouraged Wilson to pursue the project and helped connect him with vocalists. Emba’s 2020 single “Move Steady” brought DRS into the collaboration, while “State of Flow” paired Emba with Paper Dragon. “All Our Years” features Tempza. Wilson later released his self-titled debut album on Spearhead Records in 2022.
Emba’s collaborations also include BCee and Catching Cairo. The single “Alive Again”, released in 2024, brought together Emba, Hybrid Minds and Master Peace on Hybrid Music. That year, “Blueprint” paired Emba with Tempza and Dread MC. In 2025, Wilson worked with BCee on “Count On You (BCee x Emba Remix)”, with René LaVice also credited on the single, released through DeVice. His 2025 single “Do You Feel Loved” was made with Cooky and Oktae for Drum&BassArena.
In 2025, Emba released “Feel Alive”, a single with Lily Denning through UKF. Spearhead Records founder Steve BCee encouraged Wilson’s development of a soulful, melodic sound, and the label released Emba’s album in 2022. Wilson’s solo work has included vocal collaborations with DRS, Paper Dragon, Tempza, Philippa Hanna, Lily Denning and Master Peace, as well as releases with Hybrid Minds, Dread MC, Cooky and Oktae.