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L Devine

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L Devine
Devine in 2018
Devine in 2018
Background information
Birth nameOlivia Rebecca Devine
Born (1997-06-21) 21 June 1997 (age 27)
OriginWhitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
Years active2017–present
Labels
Websiteldevinemusic.com

Olivia Rebecca Devine (born 21 June 1997), known professionally as L Devine, is an English singer and songwriter. After signing a recording contract with Warner Records, she released her debut extended play (EP) Growing Pains (2017). This was followed by the release of two further EPs, Peer Pressure (2018) and Near Life Experience: Part 1 (2021). After parting from Warner, she became an independent artist and released her debut studio album, Digital Heartifacts, in 2024.

Early and personal life

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Devine was born and raised in Whitley Bay, a coastal town near Newcastle upon Tyne. Devine attended Newcastle High School for Girls, an independent day school, completing A' Levels in 2015.[3] Inspired by the Clash and the Sex Pistols, she formed her first band, the Safety Pinz, when she was seven years old.[4] She later posted a mash-up of her own music with Beyoncé's "Mine" to YouTube,[5] which attracted the attention of producer Mickey Valen, and she subsequently saved up enough money to temporarily relocate to London to pursue a career in music.[6] Devine adopted L Devine as her artist moniker because she shares the name Olivia Devine with a porn star.[7]

In 2018, in an interview with The Line of Best Fit, Devine stated that she is a lesbian, commenting that "it's kind of nice now that there can be like a lesbian artist who just happens to be a pop star, or a pop star who happens to be queer".[8]

Career

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Devine performing at the Pink Room in Yes in Manchester, England.

Devine released her debut single, "School Girls", in July 2017.[9] In an interview with Nylon, she said that the song is about "how in the 'real world', you still encounter the same bitchiness you thought you left behind at school."[10] The accompanying lyric video for the track was made in collaboration with British designer and producer Chloe.[10] She subsequently released an acoustic session performance of the track, which was premiered by the 405.[11] In November 2017, Devine released her debut five-track EP Growing Pains, which was accompanied by a ten-minute visual that was directed by Emil Nava, who had previously collaborated with Rihanna and Selena Gomez.[4] The majority of the film was shot in Newcastle.[12]

Devine's second EP, Peer Pressure, was released on 16 November 2018[13] along with a short film, also directed by Emil Nava.[14][15] "Peer Pressure", the lead single, opens with a line from the film Heathers (1989), and Devine spoke about her love of the coming-of-age film in an interview with The Line of Best Fit.[8] Devine counts Charli XCX among her fans,[16] and Charli's backing vocals feature on the track "Peer Pressure" after producer Justin Raisen played it to the pop star, who asked to record a version of it.[17] The single was accompanied by a music video on her YouTube channel.[18]

The same month the EP was released, YouTube Music announced Devine had been chosen to be on their Ones to Watch list for 2019[19] and BBC Radio 1 added L Devine's track "Nervous" to their BBC Music Introducing playlist.[20] Tmrw magazine also released a special edition issue: L Devine by tmrw, entirely dedicated to and curated in partnership with Devine, and described the artist as "an extremely exciting pop talent who we believe is destined to be a global phenomenon".[21]

In May 2019, Devine performed at the Great Escape Festival.[22] On 17 May 2019, she released the single "Naked Alone".[23] In an interview, she said "I actually wrote the song nearly two years ago. That's not usually the case, usually I just write them and then they come out over the next few months, but this one I've been sitting on for a while, just trying to find the right time to put it out, but it's time."[24] In July 2019, two songs co-written by Devine were released after she signed with BMG on a songwriting contract; "Mean That Much" by Rudimental, and "Next Mistake" by Icona Pop.[25][26] In 2020, Devine released two singles: "Boring People" and "Don't Say It".[27] The songs were followed by the release of her third EP, Near Life Experience: Part 1, released on 30 July 2021.[28] The EP was preceded by its lead single, "Girls Like Sex".[29] She released the second part to the EP later that year.[30]

After the release of the EPs, Devine left both her record label and management that she has been with since the beginning of her career. She admitted in an interview with the Official Charts Company that at the beginning of her career, she did not know the sound she wanted to make. However, after becoming independent and beginning work on a debut studio album, she felt that she was making music that felt true to her since she had "no outside opinions". After releasing the singles "Push it Down" and "Miscommunikaty", she announced the album, Digital Heartifacts, would be released in February 2024.[31]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details
Digital Heartifacts

Extended plays

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Title Details
Growing Pains
Peer Pressure
  • Released: 16 November 2018[34]
  • Label: Warner Bros.
  • Format: CD, digital download
Near Life Experience: Part 1
  • Scheduled: 23 July 2021[35]
  • Label: Warner Bros.
Near Life Experience: Part 2
  • Released: 24 September 2021[36]
  • Label: Warner Bros.

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Album
"School Girls" 2017 Growing Pains
"Peer Pressure" 2018 Peer Pressure
"Can't Be You"
"Nervous"
"Naked Alone"[37] 2019 Near Life Experience: Part 1
"Peachy Keen"[38] Near Life Experience: Part 2
"Boring People"[39] 2020
"Don't Say It"[40] Near Life Experience: Part 1
"Girls Like Sex" 2021
"Priorities"
"Push It Down"[41] 2023 Digital Heartifacts
"Miscommunikaty"[31]
"Laundry Day"[31]
"Slippin Away"[42]
[edit]
Title Year Album
"More Life"[43]
(Torren Foot featuring Tinie Tempah and L Devine) 		2020 Non-album singles
"Sad Songs"[44]
(Route 94 featuring L Devine)

Songwriting credits

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Title Year Artist(s) Credits Written with
"Be My Anime"[45] 2018 Rat Boy
  • Co-writer
  • backing vocals
 Jordan Cardy
"Mean That Much"
(featuring Preditah and Morgan) 		2019 Rudimental Co-writer Amir Izadkhah, Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Leon Rolle, Nathan Chisanga
"Next Mistake" Icona Pop Aino Jawo, Caroline Hjelt, James Napier, Maaike Kito Lebbing, Hudson Mohawke
"Come Over" (featuring Anne-Marie and Tion Wayne) 2020 Rudimental Amir Izadkhah, Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Leon Rolle, Anne-Marie Nicholson

Awards and nominations

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Year Organisation Award Work Result
2020 NME Essential New Artists for 2020 Herself Included[46]

References

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  1. ^ "L Devine". Warner Bros. Records UK. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  2. ^ "L DEVINE". Major Influence - Creative Artist Management. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  3. ^ Meritt, Emily (20 August 2015). "A Level Results 2015: Newcastle schools share lists of pupils' successes". Chronicle Live.
  4. ^ a b "northern star l devine is one of the brightest in today's pop sky". I-d. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  5. ^ Archer, Zoe (2018). "L Devine". Rollacoaster Magazine. London.
  6. ^ "L Devine premieres new video | Twin Magazine". www.twinfactory.co.uk. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  7. ^ "tmrw | Ones to watch 2018: L Devine". tmrwmagazine.com. Retrieved 14 September 2018.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ a b "On The Rise: L Devine". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  9. ^ "L Devine debuts her first track 'School Girls' exclusively with Fault - FAULT Magazine". FAULT Magazine. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  10. ^ a b "L Devine Reveals The Truth About The Real World In Her Debut Song". NYLON. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Here's an acoustic version of L Devine's 'School Girls' [405 Premiere] | News | The 405". The 405. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  12. ^ "L DEVINE "GROWING PAINS" - noctismag". noctismag. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  13. ^ Peer Pressure - EP by L Devine, 16 November 2018, retrieved 26 November 2018
  14. ^ L Devine (16 November 2018), L Devine - Peer Pressure (The Film), retrieved 26 November 2018
  15. ^ "L Devine Shares New Short Film 'Peer Pressure'". Clash Magazine. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Charli XCX on Her New '1999' Video and Her Experimental Approach to Pop: 'I Really Have Something to Say'". Billboard. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  17. ^ "L Devine Is Patiently Working to Be the UK's Next Big Pop Star". Noisey. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  18. ^ Blistein, Jon (4 September 2018). "L Devine Releases Video for 'Heathers'-Inspired Song 'Peer Pressure'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Mahalia tops YouTube Music's inaugural Ones To Watch list". Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  20. ^ "The BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra Playlists: Friday 23rd November 2018". BBC Music Introducing. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  21. ^ "L Devine Special Edition". tmrwmagazine.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  22. ^ "TRAILBLAZERS: The Great Escape Festival 2019 ones to watch". Music Festival News. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  23. ^ "A star is porn...why L Devine changed name". Metro Newspaper UK. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  24. ^ "L Devine will release new single "Naked Alone" next week". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  25. ^ Milbourne, Steve [@stevemilbourne] (12 July 2019). "Out now written by @LDevineMusic" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ "SONG: Icona Pop - 'Next Mistake'". Scandipop.co.uk. 26 July 2019. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  27. ^ "L Devine has served up a brand new video for 'Don't Say It'". Dork. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  28. ^ Hunt, El (28 July 2021). "L Devine - Near Life Experience: Part 1 EP review: witty and expansive pop earworms". NME. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  29. ^ "L Devine releases new single 'Girls Like Sex'". Far Out. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  30. ^ "L Devine releases Near Life Experience Part Two EP with new bop "Die on the Dancefloor"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  31. ^ a b c "L Devine on leaving London, independence and (finally) releasing her debut album". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  32. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (30 August 2023). "L Devine announces her debut album, Digital Heartifacts". Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Growing Pains - EP by L Devine". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  34. ^ "Peer Pressure - EP by L Devine". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Near Life Experience Part One - EP by L Devine". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Near Life Experience Part Two - EP by L Devine". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Are you ready for me?! I'm so excited to announce my new single 'Naked Alone' is coming this Friday 😬 AND I'm playing a show at Courtyard Theatre in London on 12 June. Tickets on sale this Fridayyyy". 13 May 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019 – via Twitter.
  38. ^ "Peachy Keen - Single by L Devine". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  39. ^ "Boring People - Single by L Devine". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  40. ^ "Don't Say It (Remixes) - Single by L Devine". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  41. ^ "Push It Down - Single by L Devine". Apple Music. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  42. ^ Damara Kelly, Tyler. "L Devine shares new single, "Slippin Away"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  43. ^ "More Life (feat. Tinie Tempah & L Devine) - Single by Torren Foot on Apple Music". Apple Music. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  44. ^ "Sad Songs (feat. L Devine) - Single by Route 94 on Apple Music". Apple Music. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  45. ^ "Credits - CIVIL DISORDER - Rat Boy". Tidal. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  46. ^ Smith, Thomas (3 January 2020). "The NME 100: Essential new artists for 2020". NME. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
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