Dev (singer)
| Dev | |
|---|---|
 Dev performing in Santa Cruz, California | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Devin Star Tailes |
| Born | July 2, 1989 Tracy, California, United States(age 21) |
| Origin | Manteca, California, United States |
| Genres | Electro-pop, Jazz |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | Universal Republic Island (UK) |
| Associated acts | The Cataracs, Far East Movement, Travis Barker |
| Website | devishot.com |
Devin Star Tailes (born July 2, 1989), better known by her stage name Dev, is an American recording artist. She was discovered by The Cataracs when she posted a song onto MySpace. Dev's song "Booty Bounce" was sampled in Far East Movement's hit single "Like a G6" which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and sold over two million downloads in the country. Dev was signed to Universal Republic in October 2010 and released her first official single, "Bass Down Low" in December. The song debuted at number ninety-four in the United States and peaked at number ten in the United Kingdom. Dev's debut album The Night the Sun Came Up is yet to be released.
Life and career
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Dev was born in Tracy, California to Lisa, a real estate agent, and Riki Tailes, a painting contractor. Dev grew up in Manteca and is of Portuguese and Mexican descent. She has two younger sisters, Sierra Sol and Maezee Lua. At the age of four, she started swimming and was part of the U.S Olympic development program. She attended Brock Elliott elementary. She graduated from Sierra High School, where she was a member of a band and a choir. Soon, she attended San Joaquin Delta College, studying English and art history.
[...] I decided to put up this song on MySpace. [...] it was basically a “diss track” and I didn’t expect anything out of it. It was just to make me feel good like how music usually do but Niles [of the Cataracs] came across to my page and was really into my voice and they kind of got me into singing and opened up my eyes to business opportunities.
She made a cover of an Amy Winehouse song that she described as being "super-weird and super-different". She recorded the song off her MacBook and made it in response to her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend, calling it a "diss track". A friend of hers posted the song onto MySpace, and production team The Cataracs noticed it and contacted Dev. She dropped out of college during her freshman year to pursue her singing career. Six months later, Dev and The Cataracs' song "2Nite" began to gain exposure on the radio, the television channel mtvU and the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart. In 2009, Dev moved to Los Angeles to produce music with the Cataracs.
In 2010, the Cataracs produced "Like a G6" with Far East Movement and decided to use a verse from Dev's single "Booty Bounce" as the chorus. The two songs were made in the same summer, at the time where Dev and the Cataracs "were grinding it out in the studio pretty tough together," making a couple of "simplistic random tracks." "Like a G6", which features the Cataracs and Dev, was released in April 2010, and reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song went on to sell over two million downloads in the US.
The Night the Sun Came Up (2010–present)
In August 2010, Dev made a music video for "Booty Bounce", directed by Ethan Adler, and uploaded it onto YouTube, where it has generated over five million views. In October 2010, Dev was signed to Universal Republic and her first official single, "Bass Down Low", was serviced to rhythmic radio stations in November. It was released digitally in select territories on December 6, 2010 and one day later in the United States. The song has reached sixty one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Heatseekers Songs chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number forty in its fifth week on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. A critic of The Arizona Republic named the song the fourth best single of December 2010, comparing it to Kesha's 2009 hit single "Tik Tok", but wrote that "every other element of "Bass Down Low" feels custom-made for squeezing 15 extra minutes off that "Tik Tok" clock. [...] It's there in the throbbing electro-pop groove". The song was serviced onto mainstream radio on January 11, 2011.
Since 2009, Dev has been working on her debut album with the Cataracs. The album is scheduled for a release on Tuesday, September 20, 2011. She spoke of the album in an interview with Fashion Indie, saying, "I'm confident in The Cataracs and myself that this album is going to speak for itself and I won't just be known as the "G6" girl. Pop songs with the feel of "Bass Down Low" will be included but I grew up being into helluva different music! I know that my intricate influences and The Cataracs simple influences are going to come out on this album as one." In March 2011, Dev and The Cataracs traveled to Costa Rica for three weeks where they recorded and produced most of the material for the new album. While speaking of the album's genres, she said, "Typical pop music is not what I am only good at doing; I have a lot of ideas and hip-hop influence records, some electro ballads." Dev announced the title of her debut album The Night the Sun Came Up on February 25, 2011. In March 2011, New Boyz's single "Backseat, featuring Dev and The Cataracs, was released. The song peaked at number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Dev has stated through her Twitter on April 10th that her album will be released in September. On April 17, 2011, it has been confirmed that her debut album will be released on 20 September that year. It was also stated that most of the songs in the album would be produced by The Cataracs, and "lots of new singles before the due date". It was also announced that she would be featured on hip hop artist Timbaland's debut single off his next album Shock Value III. It was also announced that she would be featured in the new single by British boy band JLS, titled "She Make Me Wanna". Dev also released two more promotional singles through Twitter, "Poison" and "Call Me" both covers of Bill Bev Devoe and Blondie respectively.
Musical Style
Dev's electro style and "sing-talk" vocal style have been compared to fellow pop singer Ke$ha. Dev responded to this, saying, "I'm confident enough in what I do that people will see me for who I am ... I get why people compare us but once people see me live they won't connect us as much." While comparing her to Kesha, Idolator wrote that "Dev's beats come off a bit more mellow and her songs a little bit more electro than pop." In response to being compared to both Ke$ha and Uffie, Dev said, "I just feel that I have a lot more to say and the ability to have an eclectic sound, a very diverse pop album. I'm not bashing either artist, but I'm going to be able to give you a little bit more than what you've heard on those records. When my album comes out, hopefully I won't have to hear another reference or comparison." Much of Dev's music is inspired by hip hop, as she believes that fans respond to "pop music but with rap roots". She said, "I've always been into hip-hop. Eminem changed my life when I was younger." The Hollywood Reporter compared her "futuristic" and "pulsing" sound to underground electroclash musicians Peaches and Yelle. Dev's musical genres have been cited as electro-crunk, electropop, and electro hop.
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
Featured Singles
Other appearances
References
External links
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dev_(singer)
