Hailing from Houston, DE’WAYNE has been on the climb for many years since we first met him over 8 years ago. Drawing influence from just about every music scene under the sun, DE’WAYNE has carved out his own infectious sound that is truly unrivaled. His raw authenticity and mission to break boundaries both musically and culturally has paved a path for undoubted and merited success. Fans adore him for his bold, rebellious spirit onstage and ability to enkindle as a storyteller in his music. Whether he’s dancing across the stage or pouring his heart out in a ballad, DE’WAYNE is fresh breath of air who deserves the world’s attention and reverence.
We recently caught up with DE’WAYNE at his release show celebrating june, his latest album under Fearless Records, where we were finally able to connect and witness this incredible collection of songs live.
In the thick, intimate atmosphere of the legendary (and haunted) Viper Room, DE’WAYNE gave Los Angeles a night for the books — an album release show that felt not just like a performance, but more so both a musical and spiritual release. With a profound voice soaked in emotion and a presence that channels the fire and artistry of rock icons past, DE’WAYNE turned this historical gem into his own sanctuary of sound, soul, and sweat.
From the moment he walked on stage, it was evident DE’WAYNE wasn’t here to simply promote june — he was here to live it. His energy, as usual, was stripped down and relentless, teasing with hints of sultry and confidence. The entire room overflowed with pride seeing him come this far. Many who were in the crowd have been friends with him and following for years. Echoes of Prince, Lenny, Mick and even Iggy emerged in the way he swayed and stretched each note into something both intimate and explosive all at once. Through it all, the entire performance was always unmistakably DE’WAYNE from the start to finish: genre-bending, fearless, and still deeply personal. (Oh, and did we mention DE’WAYNE just wrapped up a studio session with Lenny Kravitz?)
Between songs, DE’WAYNE shared slivers of his journey — stories of struggle, growth, love and of course, June herself. Hearing the origin behind some of these songs added an undeniable relatability aspect to the music, making each lyric land with more meaning as we listened in real time. It was obvious this album wasn’t just another project — it was a piece of his heart carved out and handed over to the world. We had been looping june on repeat weeks ahead of its release, so to experience the intensity of this record in the flesh was something truly rewarding as a long time advocate for his career.
DE’WAYNE has referenced various influences to this record — first and foremost, his lady, who is simply referred to as June. He also credits his father to the driving force behind “Sundays,” a song set later in the tracklist (which we absolutely cherish, by the way.) This wild ride that is life anchors an alternate perspective of maneuvering personal existence while surrounded by love and what the universe has in store.
As expected, june opens with “Lady Lady” — a nostalgic 70s/80s era track with swaggering confidence. Its riff-driven flair immediately entices you to start swaying your hips and get your groove on. It’s raw, sultry, and unapologetically flamboyant — instantly grabbing the attention of your dreams and probably convincing you to hit the replay button even after only one song. “Lady Lady” delivers a type of confidence for even the most timid soul to hop up onto a bar and dance in front of crowd of strangers.
The title track “June” offers listeners a glimpse into the romantic rendezvous that has clearly influenced not only this record as a whole, but this song in particular. With a funky, punchy sound, we learn immediately that June herself is a force of nature who has leveraged her power and distinctiveness to earn her prize and pull that “lucky in love” card in the deck of life. DE’WAYNE’s obvious lovestruck self glimmers in this track, quickly prompting us to root for the them as a team — sure, you can hear the happiness, but more so you can also feel it in the lyrics.
“Highway Robbery” has tied with “Sundays” for the top spot on tracks we love. Both tracks are drastically different from each other — probably why both resonate so strongly in two seperate emotional compartments. Conveniently, the two songs sit back-to-back on the tracklist which makes the listening experience just that much more satisfying. “Highway Robbery” oozes a modern glam rock feel from the very moment it begins — with its powerful choral element that melts into a verse of high-pitched notes and hits right in the chest. The chorus then scoops you right back up and throws you into the whirlwind of an intensified extension of the song’s intro, making it difficult to not start belting out the lyrics wherever you are.
“Sundays” trickles us down into a more mellow state with a gentle, inviting synthesizer-based melody. With a bright burst into the chorus and amplified synth again, this track brings me great nostalgia in my own personal way. Growing up in Philadelphia in the 80s and 90s, our household was (of course) saturated in the sounds of Bruce Springsteen. Something about the uplifting sounds of guitar and synth in this track are very reminiscent to some of Bruce’s songs that I spent my my childhood listening to. My dad spent Sundays in the summer on our backyard deck with the boombox blasting The Boss, tiki torches flickering, barbeque on the grill — so while, this song has its own individual origin from DE’WAYNE’s point of view about his own father, it also unintentionally reminds me a lot of mine.
Inching not far behind is “What Does He Really Know” — which feels a little bit like an extension of “Sundays” at least from a instrumental standpoint. The song also begins soft and dreamy then punches into an eruptive, catchy chorus with an emphasis on DE’WAYNE’s melodic vocals and lyricism. Additionally, “Biological” serves us nothing but a high energy, dance-ready anthem that may or may not be responsible for a speeding ticket. Another highlight is “Forever,” featuring IDKHOW — which has us transcending to a modern-day disco.
The reality is that every track possesses these signature, contagious elements, embodying various moods as the record plays through each song — there isn’t a dull moment on this entire album. DE’WAYNE’s june is a bold, genre-blurring homage to rock, R&B, funk, pop and beyond. As a listener, the tracklist is pleasantly balanced and flows effortlessly. His vocals shine in every song showcasing his ability to shapeshift and blend elements from every genre thinkable to create a sound that strictly distinguishes everything that makes DE’WAYNE who he is as a musician and a human being.
DE’WAYNE isn’t just an artist to watch — he was an artist you will feel.
‘june’ is now available on all platforms here.