De'Wayne has never been one to hide his true intentions. The Houston-born, LA-based artist has striven for greatness since emerging with his debut album 'Stains' in 2021. While he bore the trademarks of a young artist with drive, ambition, and a student-like understanding of rock lore, looking back now, he's grateful for the journey but happy he's finally happened upon the real De'Wayne.
It all started when he found himself between labels, with a third album tentatively made with the producer of his previous two outings. Approaching Concord and Fearless Records with said album in tow, they were only drawn to the cuts that would become his 2024 EP 'I WANT YOU MORE THAN ANYBODY WANTS YOU', including singles 'Synthesiser' and 'Homewrecker'. They asked him to make a new album. Understandably, this shook the artist up.
"I was like, damn, clearly, I gotta make better songs, you know?" he smiles today. Around this time, the stars aligned, and he was introduced to the sounds that would help usher in this new era.
Renowned for his electrifying performances and vivacious personality, De'Wayne has been carving out his signature sound along the way. Uprooting himself from a religious upbringing in Houston to chase his dream in the City of Angels, he juggled a day job while pursuing music, eventually signing with Hopeless Records. First came his debut, then the 2023 follow-up 'My Favourite Blue Jeans'. His hunger has never waned. While his early days were steeped in the white lineage of rock, he's now trying a new approach.
"Black people were making real rock music. What the fuck have I been doing?"
Statements like these have become a De'Wayne staple. He's fiery without letting the ego overrule, and the universe is delivering. The serendipity of everything clicking into place lifted a weight off De'Wayne's shoulders. Looking back at the aborted album, he recognises it as a bullet dodged.
The same could be said for De'Wayne finding himself. His third outing, 'June', feels the most vibrantly De'Wayne. Sure, he has that rock prowess and persona that befits so many prowling about a stage, but there was always a certain funk missing, especially given he's a bright personality who's never failed to shine. Not anymore. Now, he's fully embracing his forefathers in the Black lineage of rock and everything beyond.
"I had to learn how to love my voice"
From these moments of clarity came the need to find a new team and producer to bring the vision to life. Fast forward two years and a few stumbles later, and 'June' became De'Wayne's future. And it all shone brighter than ever.
Reflecting on his earlier output, De'Wayne realises there was always something missing. "I didn't have any real knowledge of how to make music, everything was coming from such a raw standpoint," he says. Whenever he entered a studio, he felt like the fresh-faced newbie - so much so he'd follow any suggestions thrown his way.
"I just kept getting this beautiful being of light, this June character"
While De'Wayne's path has taken him on various adventures, 'June' was born from one particularly spiritual journey. It involved a ceremony and cacao, commonly referred to in such circles as the "heart opener". It was here that June, the spiritual idea, came to life.
"I just kept getting this beautiful being of light, this June character, and it just kept coming to me. I started talking to the shamans about it. I was like, so what if there was a woman that was coming, like, that was one of my visions that I had... I feel like I sound like a hippie, man, right now," he laughs.
The overarching idea of strong female presence in De'Wayne's life is where June meets reality - from his mother to his best friend and "beautiful women that I've been meeting my whole life that have made big impacts on me. And when I think about the concept of her, I think it is a way bigger idea than just this record. But it was nice to tackle it and make it cool and make it fun. I think it's a way bigger thing that I want to keep exploring throughout the next few years."
"I want to put love into this fucked-up place"
Combining the sonic and spiritual journey has resulted in an album rife with funky, melodious music that's as unhinged as it is celebratory. It's De'Wayne being as unabashed as ever - but then again, exploding things outward in the name of creation has always been his M.O. Voraciously chewing up all he can, he's remarkably driven and shows no signs of slowing down.
Such is his lust for life that, after connecting with Lenny Kravitz's music, he asked his label if they could get Lenny on his album. Understandably, they gently let him down. But with the release of his single 'Highway Robbery', Mr Kravitz himself followed De'Wayne on Instagram - and before long, De'Wayne had slid into Lenny's DMs and was on his way to New York to meet the man himself and record. "[The label] were like, 'How the fuck did this happen?' And I'm just like, 'Because I'm a crazy person'," De'Wayne chuckles.
This is the story of De'Wayne. Someone the universe keeps lightly touching and guiding, encouraging his voracious appetite for being an artist. "I hope next time we talk, I'm sounding more crazy and thinking about doing weirder things, because it seems that when you work hard, I feel like the universe is on our side, you know? It's not like I'm out here punching people, or fighting," he beams. "I want to put love into this fucked-up place that we so happen to be in."
De'Wayne's album 'june' is out 30th July.
