L Devine
{{Short description|English singer and songwriter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = L Devine
| image = L Devine profile pic 2018 (1).jpg
| caption = Devine in 2018
| birth_name = Olivia Rebecca Devine
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|06|21|df=y}}
| origin = Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, England
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|electropop}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano|guitar}}
| years_active = 2017–present
| label = {{hlist|AWAL|Warner Bros.{{Cite web|url=https://warnerbrosrecords.co.uk/artists/l-devine/|title=L Devine|website=Warner Bros. Records UK|language=en-GB|access-date=14 September 2018|archive-date=28 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828203332/https://warnerbrosrecords.co.uk/artists/l-devine/|url-status=dead}}|BMG{{Cite news|url=http://majorinfluence.com/portfolio-items/olivia-devine/|title=L DEVINE|work=Major Influence - Creative Artist Management|access-date=14 September 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=4 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804001323/http://majorinfluence.com/portfolio-items/olivia-devine/|url-status=dead}}}}
| website = {{URL|ldevinemusic.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
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/level-results-2015-newcastle-schools-9849372|title=A Level Results 2015: Newcastle schools share lists of pupils' successes|last=Meritt|first=Emily|date=20 August 2015|website=Chronicle Live|access-date=}} Inspired by the Clash and the Sex Pistols, she formed her first band, the Safety Pinz, when she was seven years old.{{Cite news|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/a3jgpp/northern-star-l-devine-is-one-of-the-brightest-in-todays-pop-sky|title=northern star l devine is one of the brightest in today's pop sky|date=6 December 2017|work=I-d|access-date=14 September 2018|language=en-uk}} She later posted a mash-up of her own music with Beyoncé's "Mine" to YouTube,Archer, Zoe (2018). "L Devine". Rollacoaster Magazine. London. 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.twinfactory.co.uk/twin-exclusive-l-devine-brings-it-home-for-growing-pains/|title=L Devine premieres new video {{!}} Twin Magazine|website=www.twinfactory.co.uk|date=17 November 2017|language=en-GB|access-date=14 September 2018}} Devine adopted L Devine as her artist moniker because she shares the name Olivia Devine with a porn star.{{Cite web|url=https://tmrwmagazine.com/watch-2018-l-devine/|title=tmrw {{!}} Ones to watch 2018: L Devine|website=tmrwmagazine.com|language=en-GB|access-date=14 September 2018}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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".
Career
File:LDevine2023.jpg, England.]]
Devine released her debut single, "School Girls", in July 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://fault-magazine.com/2017/07/l-devine-debuts-her-first-track-school-girls-exclusively-with-fault/|title=L Devine debuts her first track 'School Girls' exclusively with Fault - FAULT Magazine|date=6 July 2017|work=FAULT Magazine|access-date=14 September 2018|language=en-US}} 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."{{Cite news|url=https://nylon.com/articles/l-devine-school-girls|title=L Devine Reveals The Truth About The Real World In Her Debut Song|date=28 July 2017|work=NYLON|access-date=14 September 2018|language=en}} The accompanying lyric video for the track was made in collaboration with British designer and producer Chloe. She subsequently released an acoustic session performance of the track, which was premiered by the 405.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/here-s-an-acoustic-version-of-l-devine-s-school-girls-405-premiere-150|title=Here's an acoustic version of L Devine's 'School Girls' [405 Premiere] {{!}} News {{!}} The 405|work=The 405|access-date=14 September 2018|language=en|archive-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005601/https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/here-s-an-acoustic-version-of-l-devine-s-school-girls-405-premiere-150|url-status=dead}} 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. The majority of the film was shot in Newcastle.{{Cite news|url=http://www.noctismag.com/2018/01/03/l-devine-growing-pains/|title=L DEVINE "GROWING PAINS" - noctismag|date=3 January 2018|work=noctismag|access-date=14 September 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=2 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902231613/http://www.noctismag.com/2018/01/03/l-devine-growing-pains/|url-status=dead}}
Devine's second EP, Peer Pressure, was released on 16 November 2018{{Citation|title=Peer Pressure - EP by L Devine|date=16 November 2018|url=https://itunes.apple.com/album/peer-pressure-ep/1441546871|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126221658/https://itunes.apple.com/album/peer-pressure-ep/1441546871|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 November 2018|language=en-US|access-date=26 November 2018}} along with a short film, also directed by Emil Nava.{{Citation|last=L Devine|title=L Devine - Peer Pressure (The Film)|date=16 November 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHSvnBWd1ZU|access-date=26 November 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/l-devine-shares-new-short-film-peer-pressure|title=L Devine Shares New Short Film 'Peer Pressure'|website=Clash Magazine|date=16 November 2018 |language=en|access-date=17 May 2019}} "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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/l-devine-on-the-rise-interview-2018|title=On The Rise: L Devine|work=The Line of Best Fit|access-date=26 November 2018|language=en}} Devine counts Charli XCX among her fans,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8479579/charli-xcx-1999-troye-sivan-new-music-interview|title=Charli XCX on Her New '1999' Video and Her Experimental Approach to Pop: 'I Really Have Something to Say'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=26 November 2018}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/vbav7j/l-devine-interview-peer-pressure|title=L Devine Is Patiently Working to Be the UK's Next Big Pop Star|date=20 November 2018|work=Noisey|access-date=26 November 2018|language=en-uk}} The single was accompanied by a music video on her YouTube channel.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/l-devine-releases-video-for-heathers-inspired-song-peer-pressure-718946/|title=L Devine Releases Video for 'Heathers'-Inspired Song 'Peer Pressure'|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=4 September 2018|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=17 May 2019}}
The same month the EP was released, YouTube Music announced Devine had been chosen to be on their Ones to Watch list for 2019{{Cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/digital/read/mahalia-tops-youtube-music-s-inaugural-ones-to-watch-list/074409|title=Mahalia tops YouTube Music's inaugural Ones To Watch list|access-date=26 November 2018|language=en}} and BBC Radio 1 added L Devine's track "Nervous" to their BBC Music Introducing playlist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/introducing/entries/1a4551ee-36c5-48e7-a17d-33dce7dd9338|title=The BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra Playlists: Friday 23rd November 2018|date=20 November 2018|website=BBC Music Introducing|language=en-GB|access-date=26 November 2018}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://tmrwmagazine.com/shop/l-devine-special-edition|title=L Devine Special Edition|last=|first=|date=|website=tmrwmagazine.com|language=en|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126221636/https://tmrwmagazine.com/shop/l-devine-special-edition|url-status=dead}}
In May 2019, Devine performed at the Great Escape Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicfestivalnews.net/the-great-escape-festival-2019-ones-to-watch/|title=TRAILBLAZERS: The Great Escape Festival 2019 ones to watch|date=25 April 2019|website=Music Festival News|language=en-US|access-date=17 May 2019}} On 17 May 2019, she released the single "Naked Alone".{{Cite web|url=https://www.metro.news/a-star-is-porn-why-l-devine-changed-name/1561138/|title=A star is porn...why L Devine changed name|website=Metro Newspaper UK|access-date=17 May 2019}} 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."{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/l-devine-will-release-new-single-naked-alone-next-week|title=L Devine will release new single "Naked Alone" next week|website=The Line of Best Fit|language=en|access-date=17 May 2019}} 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.{{Cite tweet|number=1149621931521429505|title=Out now written by @LDevineMusic|last=Milbourne|first=Steve|date=12 July 2019|user=stevemilbourne}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.scandipop.co.uk/song-icona-pop-next-mistake/|title=SONG: Icona Pop - 'Next Mistake'|date=26 July 2019|website=Scandipop.co.uk|language=en-US|access-date=28 August 2020|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808150801/https://www.scandipop.co.uk/song-icona-pop-next-mistake/|url-status=dead}} In 2020, Devine released two singles: "Boring People" and "Don't Say It".{{Cite news|url=https://www.readdork.com/news/l-devine-has-served-up-a-brand-new-video-for-dont-say-it|title=L Devine has served up a brand new video for 'Don't Say It'|work=Dork|date=18 June 2020|access-date=28 August 2020}} The songs were followed by the release of her third EP, Near Life Experience: Part 1, released on 30 July 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/l-devine-near-life-experience-part-1-ep-radar-review-2999201 |title=L Devine - Near Life Experience: Part 1 EP review: witty and expansive pop earworms |work=NME |date=28 July 2021 |access-date=30 July 2021 |author=Hunt, El}} The EP was preceded by its lead single, "Girls Like Sex".{{cite news |title=L Devine releases new single 'Girls Like Sex' |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/l-devine-releases-new-single-girls-like-sex/?amp |access-date=27 May 2021 |work=Far Out |date=27 May 2021}} She released the second part to the EP later that year.{{cite news|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/l-devine-near-life-experience-part-two-ep-new-bop-die-on-the-dancefloor|work=The Line of Best Fit|title=L Devine releases Near Life Experience Part Two EP with new bop "Die on the Dancefloor"|access-date=31 August 2023}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/l-devine-interview-debut-album-digital-heartifacts/|publisher=Official Charts Company|title=L Devine on leaving London, independence and (finally) releasing her debut album|access-date=31 August 2023}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:9.5em;" | Title
! scope="col" style="width:18.5em;" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row" |Digital Heartifacts
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" style="width:9.5em;" | Title
! scope="col" style="width:18.5em;" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row" |Growing Pains
|
|
| scope="row" |Peer Pressure
|
|
| scope="row" | Near Life Experience: Part 1
| |
| scope="row" | Near Life Experience: Part 2
| |
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |
| scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:16em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "More Life"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/more-life-feat-tinie-tempah-l-devine-single/1526678737 |title=More Life (feat. Tinie Tempah & L Devine) - Single by Torren Foot on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |date=18 September 2020 |accessdate=1 October 2020}} (Torren Foot featuring Tinie Tempah and L Devine) | rowspan="2"| 2020 | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Sad Songs"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sad-songs-feat-l-devine-single/1535813118 |title=Sad Songs (feat. L Devine) - Single by Route 94 on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |date=30 October 2020 |accessdate=11 November 2020}} (Route 94 featuring L Devine) |
=Songwriting credits=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Artist(s) ! scope="col"| Credits ! scope="col"| Written with |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Be My Anime"{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/83298247/credits|title=Credits - CIVIL DISORDER - Rat Boy|website=Tidal|date=26 January 2018 |accessdate=23 January 2020}}
| 2018 | Rat Boy | {{hlist|Co-writer|backing vocals}} |
| scope="row"| "Mean That Much" {{small|(featuring Preditah and Morgan)}} | rowspan=2| 2019 | rowspan="3"| Co-writer | Amir Izadkhah, Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Leon Rolle, Nathan Chisanga |
| scope="row"| "Next Mistake"
| Aino Jawo, Caroline Hjelt, James Napier, Maaike Kito Lebbing, Hudson Mohawke |
| scope="row"| "Come Over" {{small|(featuring Anne-Marie and Tion Wayne)}}
| 2020 | Rudimental | Amir Izadkhah, Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Leon Rolle, Anne-Marie Nicholson |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Year
! Organisation ! Award ! Work ! Result |
|---|
| 2020
| NME | Essential New Artists for 2020 | {{n/a|Herself}} | {{included}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-radar/nme-100-essential-new-artists-for-2020-2592024|title=The NME 100: Essential new artists for 2020|publisher=NME|date=3 January 2020|accessdate=22 April 2020|first=Thomas|last=Smith}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0003634569}}
- {{discogs artist}}
- {{IMDb name|id=11090260}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devine, L}}
Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people
Category:Warner Records artists
Category:People from Whitley Bay
Category:Musicians from Tyne and Wear
Category:English women singer-songwriters
Category:English women pop singers
Category:English dance musicians
Category:21st-century English women singers
Category:English lesbian musicians