DEVA MAHAL

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 2020 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, Mara TK, Aja, Estère, 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. 

On October 7th 2022, Deva Mahal’s new single ‘Run Me Through’ was the first 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. FUTURE CLASSIC: VOL 1 – CLASSIC was released on all digital streaming platforms on March 17, 2023.

VIDEOS

MUSIC/MIXES

DISCOGRAPHY

Future Classic, Vol 1 (EP) - 2023
Sister ft. Zoe Moon (Single) - 2021
Stand In (Album) - 2020
Your Only One / Goddamn (Single) - 2019
Run Deep (Album) - 2018
Dancing On My Own (Single) - 2018
Fire (Single) - 2018

PRESS

BOOKINGS/MORE INFO
JAZ KAPOW / FENELLA STRATTON
E: [email protected] / [email protected]
P: +64 21 128 7475 / +64 21 054 0699