Demidevil

Following the release of her 2019 EP, Hi It's Me, Ashnikko would return with the single "Tantrum" on March 6, 2020. Originally intended as the lead single for the mixtape, the song would later be demoted to a stand-alone single.{{Cite web|last=Shutler|first=Ali|date=April 22, 2020|title=Ashnikko is the Miley Cyrus-approved bubblepunk pop-star who refuses to take herself seriously|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/nme-radar-breakout-ashnikko-interview-stupid-2650847|access-date=October 5, 2020|website=NME}} The "DemiDevil" character was first portrayed in the "Tantrum" music video alongside Ashnikko herself and another character titled "Little Blue".{{Cite web|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=March 23, 2020|title=Ashnikko's 'Tantrum' Video Is A Blast|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/videos/ashnikkos-tantrum-video-is-a-blast|access-date=October 5, 2020|website=Clash}} The latter would later be revealed as a song title on the mixtape. Album track "Clitoris! The Musical" was first featured in the video "ASH WEDNESDAY 2020". Ashnikko first teased the mixtape in a series of videos in which she is gradually turning into her "demidevil" alter ego. The last of the three videos revealed the cover art, tracklist and release date for the mixtape. Ashnikko coincidingly, officially announced the mixtape on August 28, 2020, via her social media platforms.{{Cite tweet|number=1299409116843081728|user=ashnikko|title=DEMIDEVIL the mixtape, out October 9th!!!😈😈😈😈😈😈 preorder my baby at http://ashnikko.com|author=ashnikko [verified account]|date=August 28, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/ashnikko-details-new-demidevil-mixtape|title=Ashnikko details new Demidevil mixtape|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Kenneally|first=Cerys|date=August 28, 2020|access-date=September 22, 2020}}

Demidevil was met with several delays before its release. An initial date for October 9, 2020 was announced in August earlier that year. The mixtape then suffered its first delay in September due to "shipping delays" and other unknown reasons. The mixtape was then intended for a November 13 release.{{Cite web|title=Ashnikko|url=https://www.facebook.com/ashnikkomusic/posts/3413610285371407|access-date=2021-01-07|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} A second delay was announced in October 2020, with the mixtape having a scheduled release for February 19, 2021.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=don't h8 me !!|url=https://twitter.com/ashnikko/status/1318996462437629952|access-date=|website=Twitter}} In early 2021, Warner Music Group's merchandise team accidentally shipped out orders including physical copies of the mixtape earlier than its February 19th release. Following this error, Ashnikko would reveal a new date for the mixtape, January 15, 2021.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=hey yall!! as u know, loads of my mixtapes were sent out more than a month b4 my desired release dateImp& i don't think it's fair that yall don't get to hear the music at the same time ..SoO...I made the decision to bring DEMIDEVIL forward & release it next FRIDAY, JANUARY 15th!!!|url=https://twitter.com/ashnikko/status/1347261098085543944|access-date=|website=Twitter}}

A deluxe edition CD, adding two bonus tracks ('Tantrum' and 'Daisy 2.0'), along with a sixteen-page booklet, is due for release on September 6, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Demidevil (Deluxe Edition) {{!}} Ashnikko |url=https://store.warnermusic.com.au/products/demidevil-deluxe-edition |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=Warner Music Australia Store |language=en}}

Demidevil is a pop and pop-trap album that takes influence from R&B, hip hop, pop punk, electropop, nu metal, and hyperpop.{{cite web|url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/album-reviews/ashnikko-demidevil/|title=Ashnikko - 'DEMIDEVIL' review|last=Townsend|first=Megan|website=Crack|access-date=March 19, 2021}}

The lead single from Demidevil, "Cry", was released on June 17, 2020, and features Canadian musician Grimes. An animated music video was premiered alongside the track's release. This video would later be nominated at the UK Music Video Awards in the category of "Best Pop Video - UK".{{Cite web|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=September 30, 2020|title=Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Beyoncé lead UK Music Video Awards nominations|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/uk-music-video-awards-dua-lipa-the-weeknd-and-beyonce-lead-nominations__31116/|access-date=October 2, 2020|website=Official Charts Company}}

The opening track, "Daisy" was released as the mixtape's second single on July 9, 2020. A music video in collaboration with Beats Electronics and TikTok was released on August 7, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Morgan|first=Maybelle|date=August 7, 2020|title=Ashnikko Teams Up With Beats and TikTok For #BeatsDaisyChallenge|url=http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2020/08/07/ashnikko-beats-tiktok-daisy/|access-date=October 26, 2020|website=Wonderland}}{{Cite web|last=Richards|first=Will|date=July 10, 2020|title=Ashnikko shares new song 'Daisy' and launches collaboration with Beats and TikTok|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/ashnikko-shares-new-song-daisy-and-launches-collaboration-with-beats-and-tiktok-2705445|access-date=October 26, 2020|website=NME}} Commercially, "Daisy" peaked at #24 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her first charting and first top 40 hit in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|title=Ashnikko|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/57182/ashnikko/|access-date=October 5, 2020|website=Official Charts Company}} The song also peaked at #3 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, becoming her second entry on the chart after "Stupid".

After being teased a day before its release,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=January 11, 2021|title=@ashnikko: a hatchling for you tomorrow 👀🥚|url=https://twitter.com/ashnikko/status/1348727080784076801|access-date=January 12, 2021|website=Twitter}} "Deal with It" featuring American singer Kelis was released as the mixtape's third single on January 12, 2021. It premiered on BBC Radio 1 and its music video was released along with the song's widespread release. With less than 3 days of tracking, the single charted at #84 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her second ever charting track in the United Kingdom.

"Slumber Party" featuring American rapper Princess Nokia was released as the fourth single on April 23, 2021, after achieving viral success on TikTok. The song would be performed on the Late Night with Seth Meyers show on April 30, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Subscribe|title=Watch Ashnikko and Princess Nokia take 'Slumber Party' to US telly {{!}} News|url=http://diymag.com/2021/05/04/ashnikko-princess-nokia-slumber-party-tv|access-date=2021-05-16|website=diymag.com|date=May 4, 2021 |language=en}} A music video was released on May 13, 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-15|title=Watch Ashnikko and Princess Nokia's hyper-modern video for 'Slumber Party'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-ashnikko-and-princess-nokias-hyper-modern-video-for-slumber-party-2941238|access-date=2021-05-16|website=NME|language=en-GB}}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 6.7/10{{cite web |title=DEMIDEVIL reviews |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12695/Ashnikko-DEMIDEVIL.aspx|access-date=June 15, 2021|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?}}

|MC = 74/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/demidevil-mixtape/ashnikko|title=Demidevil [Mixtape] by Ashnikko Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=January 16, 2021}}

|rev1= AllMusic

|rev1score= {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Fred |title=Demidevil - Ashnikko |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/demidevil-mw0003431999 |website=AllMusic |access-date=February 4, 2021 |language=en |date=January 15, 2021}}

|rev2= Clash

|rev2score= 8/10{{cite web |last1=Cowan |first1=Yasmin |title=Ashnikko - Demidevil |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/ashnikko-demidevil |website=Clash Magazine |access-date=January 15, 2021 |language=en |date=January 15, 2021}}

|rev3= DIY

|rev3score= {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2021/01/14/ashnikko-demidevil-review|title=Ashnikko - Demidevil|last=Watson|first=Elly|date=November 13, 2020|access-date=January 15, 2021|work=DIY}}

|rev4= The Line of Best Fit

|rev4score= 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/ashnikko-demidevil-album-review|title=Ashnikko exposes her softer side on the whip smart Demidevil|last=Watson|first=Kayleigh|date=January 14, 2021|access-date=January 15, 2021|publisher=The Line of Best Fit}}

|rev5= NME

|rev5score= {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/ashnikko-demidevil-mixtape-review-radar-2854802|title=Ashnikko – 'Demidevil' review: bubblegum pop-punk star loves a bit of blue|last=Hunt|first=El|date=January 14, 2021|access-date=January 14, 2021|work=NME}}

|rev6= The Observer

|rev6score= {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/24/ashnikko-demidevil-review-ashton-casey-debut|title=Ashnikko: Demidevil review – unfiltered debut of an innate pop provocateuse|last=Cragg|first=Michael|date=January 24, 2021|access-date=January 25, 2021|work=The Observer}}

|rev7= Pitchfork

|rev7score= 6.9/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/ashnikko-demidevil/|title=Ashnikko: Demidevil Album Review|last=Bardhan|first=Ashley|date=January 21, 2021|access-date=January 21, 2021|work=Pitchfork}}

|rev8= PopMatters

|rev8score= 6/10{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/ashnikko-demidevil-review-2650013839.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1|title=Ashnikko's Debut 'Demidevil' Attempts to Birth a Pop Star From the Endless Feed|last=Malone|first=Nick|date=January 18, 2021|access-date=January 25, 2021|work=PopMatters}}

}}

Demidevil received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, a website that aggregates reviews of music albums, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 74, based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". El Hunt of NME wrote that Ashnikko's "first real body of work builds on the early hype, and draws from a far wider pot of musical influences than before: Nu-metal, pop-punk, The Neptunes-esque production tricks and campy musical theatre", and concluded that the record "shows that [she is] far more than a two-trend wonder – with a tank full of intriguing bangers that evade living under 'Daisy's formidable shadow."

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Fred Thomas stated that "The project's ten tracks nicely mix Ashnikko's enormous personality and brazen confidence with infectious pop-trap production and hints of early-2000s nostalgia that range from subtle to overt."

Billboard included the album on their list of the best albums of the first half of 2021.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/9583295/best-albums-2021-so-far|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2021 So Far: Staff Picks|magazine=Billboard|date=June 7, 2021|access-date=June 18, 2021}}

Demidevil debuted at number 107 on the US Billboard 200.{{Cite magazine|title=Ashnikko|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/ashnikko/chart-history/tlp/|access-date=2021-10-04|magazine=Billboard}} It also debuted at number one on the US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard). In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 19 on the UK Albums (OCC).{{Cite web|title=Official Albums Chart Top 100 {{!}} Official Charts Company|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20210122/7502/|access-date=2021-10-04|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en}} Overall, the album debuted in seven countries including Canada.

{{Track listing

| headline = Demidevil track listing{{Cite web|title=DEMIDEVIL by Ashnikko|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/demidevil/1527423122|access-date=September 20, 2020|website=Apple Music|language=en-us}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 25:24

| title1 = Daisy

| writer1 = {{hlist|Ashton Casey|Slinger}}

| extra1 = Slinger

| length1 = 2:26

| title2 = Toxic

| writer2 = {{hlist|Casey|Kelly Kiara|Slinger}}

| extra2 = Slinger

| length2 = 2:42

| title3 = Deal with It

| note3 = featuring Kelis

| writer3 = {{hlist|Casey|Mark Crew|Daniel Priddy|Dagny Sandvik|Max Wolfgang|Chad Hugo{{ref|b|[b]}}|Pharrell Williams{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Slinger|Andrew Goldstein|Crew{{ref|a|[a]}}|Priddy{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 3:11

| title4 = Slumber Party

| note4 = featuring Princess Nokia

| writer4 = {{hlist|Casey|Peter Elegbede|Robot Moonjuice|Destiny Ortiz}}

| extra4 = CallMeTheKidd

| length4 = 2:58

| title5 = Drunk with My Friends

| writer5 = {{hlist|Casey|Oscar Scheller}}

| extra5 = Scheller

| length5 = 2:08

| title6 = Little Boy

| writer6 = {{hlist|Casey|Scheller}}

| extra6 = Scheller

| length6 = 2:52

| title7 = Cry

| note7 = featuring Grimes

| writer7 = {{hlist|Casey|Claire Boucher|Ebenezer Fabiyi|Melissa Storwick}}

| extra7 = Ebenezer

| length7 = 2:06

| title8 = L8r Boi

| writer8 = {{hlist|Casey|Slinger|Scott Alspach{{ref|c|[c]}}|Lauren Christy{{ref|c|[c]}}|Graham Edwards{{ref|c|[c]}}|Avril Lavigne{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Slinger|Goldstein}}

| length8 = 2:23

| title9 = Good While It Lasted

| writer9 = {{hlist|Casey|Marcus Andersson|Gina Kushka|Jon Mills}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|J Mills|Andersson|Scheller{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length9 = 3:02

| title10 = Clitoris! The Musical

| writer10 = {{hlist|Casey|Scheller}}

| extra10 = Scheller

| length10 = 1:36

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer.
• {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} "Deal with It" samples the song "Caught Out There" as performed by Kelis and written by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams.
• {{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} "L8r Boi" interpolates the song "Sk8er Boi" as performed by Avril Lavigne and written by Lavigne, Lauren Christy, Scott Alspach and Graham Edwards.{{Cite web|title=Warner Records Press {{!}} Ashnikko|url=https://press.warnerrecords.com/ashnikko/|access-date=October 5, 2020}}

Musicians

• Ashnikko – vocals
• Slinger – drums, synthesizer (tracks 1–3, 8); backing vocals, keyboards (1–3); sitar (1, 2), santur dulcimer (2), bells (3); flute, guitar, piano (8)
• Mark Crew – keyboards, programming (3)
• Dan Priddy – keyboards, programming (3)
• Kelis – vocals (3)
• CallMeTheKidd – keyboards, programming (4)
• Princess Nokia – vocals (4)
• Oscar Scheller – programming (5, 6, 9, 10); bass guitar, drums, synthesizer (5, 6, 9); keyboards (10)
• Ebenezer – programming (7)
• Grimes – vocals (7)
• Andrew Goldstein – guitar, keyboards, programming (8)
• Marcus Andersson – acoustic guitar (9)

Technical

• Chris Gehringer – mastering (1–4, 6, 8–10)
• John Greenham – mastering (5, 7)
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (1, 3, 7, 8)
• Slinger – mixing (2), engineering (3, 8)
• CallMeTheKidd – mixing, engineering (4)
• Oscar Scheller – mixing (5, 6, 9, 10)
• Andrew Goldstein – engineering (3, 8)
• Ebenezer – engineering (7)
• Zukye Ardella – vocal engineering (4)
• Matt Wolach – mixing assistance (1, 3, 7, 8)

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|digital=true|award=Gold|domestic=not|artist=Ashnikko|title=Demidevil|relyear=2021|certyear=2022|accessdate=19 February 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|award=Silver|artist=Ashnikko|title=Demidevil|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|accessdate=21 October 2024|id=20431-5498-2}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Ashnikko}}

Category:2021 mixtape albums

Category:Ashnikko albums

Category:Debut mixtape albums

Category:Warner Records mixtape albums

Category:Parlophone mixtape albums

Category:Trap music albums by American artists

Category:Pop albums by American artists