Album Review: De'Wayne - 'june'
It's been quite the journey for Los Angeles artist De'Wayne. Breaking in to the business and breaking out as a featured voice in his early years, he took 2021 by the horns when he released his debut full-length STAINS. Since then, he's been on a steady incline with his sugar-and-spice style. Combining rock, pop and R&B into his own brilliant blend, De'Wayne is starting summer on his time with his latest record june.
Opening the record with the electrifying 'lady lady', it's a seductive back-and-forth between De'Wayne's vocals and the riff-heavy guitar that accompanies him throughout. Reminiscent of rock hits of the past, the heyday of big hair and big personalities, it feels new and it feels fresh. The flow of De'Wayne's sexual musicality is one that has become a staple of his work; one that only he can command to his will, and he continues this into the title track.
'june' is pop-punk meets Prince. The tones to tingle the soul, while also possessing the ability to get the club jumping and get the crowd moshing. De'Wayne meets the two ends of the spectrum in the middle, where with the youthful rebellion of his anthemic chanting meets with the deep-down heartfelt sentiments in his words. It's a track that could be labelled as "something for everyone" - it's the instruments, it's the voice, it's the lyrics, or it's the overall product. There is a way to win everyone over, and if he hasn't already found the secret to full success, then he's so close he's boiling.
He has found himself to be a man of all trades, and a master of many. With the retro-rock sounds at the start of the record, to the indie rock influenced songs such as 'biological', and the ever so personal ode to his father in the synth-leading single 'sundays'.
'sundays' is a beautiful breakaway from the themes of sex, romance and hormonal urges. As someone who has opened up about his family life and his upbringing, it is only natural that such experiences find their way into one's art, and De'Wayne has found himself opening up more as he continues creating. Even if this is still the beginning, it's a stellar start to art imitating life and he will only be perfecting the craft as more music is made, more words are written, and more albums are released into the industry. It even brings an artist closer to their fan base, and with a sizeable following of his own, it can only be a benefit to the heart and the mind.
june is a wild ride, a steady drive, and a healthy standstill scattered along the run of the record. De'Wayne is showing off his versatility on a range of levels, and it shows he is shaping to be the rockstar, popstar, artist and creator extraordinaire he has been working towards becoming since his introduction nearly a decade ago. It's an eternal summer, and he shall always sing his praises to what he adores most: june.
Words by Jo Cosgrove
