Tour
NEW EP
Out NOW
NEWS
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!”
See Deva Mahal perform these songs and others on The Classic Tour around New Zealand June 2023.
Listen to FUTURE CLASSIC: VOL 1 – CLASSIC HERE / HERE
BIO
A rare combination of masterful songwriting and breathtaking vocal talent, Deva Mahal was born with blues in her blood. Beginning from her upbringing in Kaua’i, Hawaii to discovering her voice in New Zealand, it’s there where she solidified her vision of becoming an artist. Deva’s star continued to rise in New York City where in 2018, she released her aptly named debut album, Run Deep, followed by a series of singles released in 2019 by Motéma Music and a couple of acclaimed independent releases through Mahal Clan Productions.
During this time Deva toured the world, gracing the stages of the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Bonnaroo, the Montreal Jazz Festival, Byron Bay Blues Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival along with many other esteemed events and venues. She has distinguished herself as song writer by being a finalist for the 2021 Apra Silver Scroll and the 2019 A2IM Indie Awards, Contributing two compositions and featuring as a vocalist on the Grammy award winning album “The Wild Card” by legendary recording artist and actress, Ledisi as well as providing her original composition and performance to open the 2021 Biden/Harris inauguration and 2021 rally for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. the pleasure of collaborating with a number of musicians; Son Little, Allen Stone, Jaleel Bunton of TV on the Radio, Binky Griptite of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Kris Bowers, Keb Mo, and has performed on stage alongside such international legends as Etta James, Björk, Ceelo Green, Angelique Kidjo, Michael Stipe, Patti Smith, and The Roots as well as local heroes like Tami Neilson, Troy Kingi, Fat Freddy’s Drop and Trinity Roots .
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. Mahal’s newest project ( Future Classic: Vol 1 - Classic) passionately 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.
Dropping on March 17th, Deva Mahal’s new single “ Will Anything Change” is the fourth of many songs as a part of her upcoming two part EP release series titled “ Future Classic: Vol 1 - Classic” and “Future Classic: Vol 2 - Future”. Vol 1- Classic features some of Aotearoa’s finest creatives and is full of passion and grit. Beauty and strength. Timeless. Unafraid to be raw and speaks of pain and triumph. Informed by heartbreaking challenges but never taking its eye off of hope.
She can’t wait to begin to share it with you.