Tour
“Sout COast”
Deva Mahal - ft. Estère
OUT
MAY 23
NEW EP
Out NOW
NEWS
NEW RELEASE. COMING MAY 23. “ SOUTH COAST”
Pōneke-based Deva Mahal has today released her passionately bold and undeniably emotive new EP, FUTURE CLASSIC: VOL 1 – CLASSIC.
Listen to FUTURE CLASSIC: VOL 1 – CLASSIC HERE / HERE
The six-track EP is a powerful piece of work; showcasing Deva’s strength yet vulnerability as a songwriter, her skill as a producer and her talent as a vocalist. The music evokes incredible emotion full of both joy and pain. FUTURE CLASSIC: VOL 1 – CLASSIC channels into her music the staggering heartbreak of the current racial violence and political injustices of her country of origin, the eternal endeavour to search for true love and self-worth, and her emboldened sense of the sensuality, softness and power as a Black woman.
“I needed to open the record by making it clear where I stand when it comes my Black culture, women’s rights and racial injustice, because the world is asking us to stand up and stand for something,” says Deva.
“This is what the opening track ‘Will Anything Change’ is about, which is a collaboration with one of my favourite artists and producers, Mara TK, as well as my partner in crime Chris Wethey.”
Another new unreleased song, ‘Worthy’, is full of soul and power; using it’s disco inspired dance production to operate from the perspective that you already are worthy. ‘On Read’, is a letter Deva wrote to someone which “hits hard and has teeth, but has a lot of space and restraint. It might be my favourite track on the EP.”
These three new tracks join a string of previously released singles. ‘Run Me Through’, the first single released off the EP, reached #3 on the New Zealand Alternative Radio Charts and premiered alongside its striking music video. ‘I Want You (For All Time)’ has clocked an impressive 200k streams on Spotify alone since its initial release in November 2022, and comes with a gorgeous music video of its own. In ‘Travel With Me’, the most recent single, audiences get to witness Deva’s magic in the studio with an intimately shot video.
Unequivocally one of our most astounding recording and touring artists, Deva Mahal was born with blues in her blood. Beginning from her upbringing in Hawaii to discovering her voice in New Zealand. Deva has spent the last few years in Aotearoa following a massive surgery and the devastating Covid-19 pandemic taking that time to delve deeper into her craft as a composer as well as cultivating her skills as a producer, alongside Christchurch born, Chris Wethey.
Made with support from NZ On Air, FUTURE CLASSIC: VOL 1 – CLASSIC is a gift and journey into Deva’s soul, crafted with time, intention and a long list of incredible collaborators.
“It feels audacious,” says Deva. “To dare to bet on yourself and the ones you trust most, to create something beautiful to share with the world or whoever is listening. To be independent and unsigned and not let that be an impediment to your ability to create real music. To be big, Black and beautiful while you do it! Honestly, the audacity of it all! And bitch, I’m here for it!”
Listen to FUTURE CLASSIC: VOL 1 – CLASSIC HERE / HERE
BIO
DEVA MAHAL – ARTIST BIO
Born with the blues in her blood, Deva Mahal has forged a rare blend of masterful songwriting, breathtaking vocal talent, and soulful production. Her ability to convey both profound joy and deep sorrow through her lyrical and melodic compositions often leaves audiences moved to tears and overflowing with emotion.
Fresh from this year’s Grammy Awards—where her father, the legendary Taj Mahal, received a Lifetime Achievement Award and won Best Traditional Blues Album—Deva is ready to share a new side of herself with the world.
Raised in Kaua’i, Hawai’i and discovering her voice in New Zealand, Deva solidified her artistic vision before making her mark in New York City. She released her debut album Run Deep in 2018, followed by a string of successful singles and independent projects.
Deva’s career has taken her from iconic stages around the world to the big screen, including a role in David O. Russell’s acclaimed film American Hustle, alongside Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, and Robert De Niro. Her voice is also featured on the soundtrack of The Experimenter (starring Winona Ryder and Peter Sarsgaard). She has performed at renowned venues and festivals such as the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Bonnaroo, and the Montreal Jazz Festival.
Deva is currently writing and producing her highly anticipated new EP with Christchurch-born producer and artist Chris Wethey. The project includes collaborations with London-based writer/producer Estère, producer/guitarist Ashton Sellars, Latin Grammy Award-winning band Flor de Toloache (Mireya Ramos, Chey Fiol), Alan Markley, Jacob Bills, Lydia Cole, Iris Little, and London pianist Ollie Rockberger (Laura Mvula).
A three-time finalist for the APRA Silver Scroll and a 2019 A2IM Indie Award nominee, Deva also contributed to Ledisi’s Grammy-winning album The Wild Card. She performed at the 2021 Biden-Harris Inauguration and the New Zealand rally for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and was featured on the soundtrack for the Selena Gomez and Stacey Abrams documentary.
Her recent collaborations include work with Kojey Radical and she has worked with Son Little, Allen Stone, EWH, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Ladi6 and Olmecha Supreme. She’s also shared the stage with legends such as Etta James, Björk, CeeLo Green, and The Roots.
Deva wrapped her latest European tour with sold-out shows in late 2024 and recently closed out the 2025 Wellington Fringe Festival, which was nominated for the "Momentous Music Award." Her latest independent release, Future Classic: Vol. 1 – Classic, includes a standout track with over 500,000 streams. Her next record, South Coast, is set for release on May 23, 2025.
Contact:
Distribution: Emily – The Orchard/DRM - emily@drm.co.nz
PR: Nicole Thomas – NicNak Media - nicole@nicnakmedia.com
Booking: Anthony – One Hundred Percent Good - anthony@onehundredpercent.nz
Website: www.devamahal.com
Email: teamdevamahal@gmail.com