FITTING IN

DE'WAYNE IS BACK WITH A MORE FOCUSED, REFINED FOLLOW-UP TO HIS BRILLIANT DEBUT. IN THOSE FAVOURITE BLUE JEANS...

- MADDY HOWELL

At some point in their careers, many artists experience a moment where things seem to just click. It can come at any time, often when you least expect it, and with the release of his debut album 'STAINS' last year - De'Wayne was certain he'd found it.

Having been making music since the age of 13, it was a record that encapsulated the buzzing energy and fury of a young punk kid desperate to bust into the industry, and above all - one who was grateful to be given the chance.

Spending half his life grinding towards his goals, its release marked the first time that the Houston native was able to make a living from music. Moving into his own home after living with his manager for six years, and booking the biggest tours and festival circuits of his life, you may assume that once 'STAINS' hit the shelves De'Wayne was putting his feet up and taking in all his well-earned success - but a new chapter was already being written.

"I dropped 'STAINS', and I was so proud, but my manager gave me one of the greatest inspirational quotes. He told me, 'You're like a rookie that didn't make the playoffs'," he recalls.

"After the album I did tours with WILLOW and Chase Atlantic, then this year I had a headline tour with all the major festivals in the States as well as Reading and Leeds Festival. I was like, 'I did it. I came from Houston, I got signed, and I did a debut album'. I was doing my thing and hearing him say that, kid De'Wayne would have been like, 'Oh, that hurt my feelings'. It lit a huge fire under my ass though. I got up and I just lived."