L DEVINE returns with a new-found artistic independence to complement her undeniable talents as a vocalist and songwriter. That journey gets underway with the release of her new single and Radio 1’s Hottest Record, ‘Push It Down’ – the first release from her upcoming debut album on AWAL Recordings.
‘Push It Down’ finds L DEVINE challenging your expectations of who she is as an artist – in the best possible way. An acoustic introduction sets the scene for this tale of heartbreak, but then she holds nothing back as the song erupts into a grungy pop anthem. While the hook immediately embeds itself in your consciousness, her lyrics “I’ll just say I’m sorry / Leave and text you hardly / Go and fuck somebody / When I just want you” bitterly accept that prioritising the needs of a partner despite her own mental anguish is a one-way ticket to an unwanted break-up. She co-wrote and co-produced the song with Julien Flew.
L DEVINE says, “‘Push It Down’ is about trying to suppress emotions and hide any signs of vulnerability. The song’s feelings boil to the surface while I’m failing to mimic my romantic interest’s nonchalance, before eventually erupting into chaos with heavy guitar stabs and unbridled vocals. I wanted to lead with ‘Push It Down’ because I liked how raw and punchy it was, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, there’s still some humour to it. It feels like a bit of a situationship anthem.”
The accompanying ‘Push It Down’ video was made in collaboration with director Emilio Boutros. L DEVINE adds, “We wanted to reflect the high anxiety feelings and themes of the song. At the beginning of the video, you see me with a lot of nervous energy, trying to keep composure and stay calm and by the end of the video we see fast cuts of me drowning in smoke and losing control of my emotions.”
L DEVINE’s early releases, including ‘Naked Alone’ and ‘Like You Like That’, established her a talent to be reckoned with. Her songwriting proved to be meticulous and hook-driven but staunchly relatable, intensely personal and provocative with clever lyrics that explored experiences that spoke to her fans. Those songs made a huge impact, resulting in 100+ million career streams to date, consistent support and playlists at Radio 1, plus praise from artists such as Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Sam Fender and Lewis Capaldi. A rising figurehead in the LGBTQ+ community, she also won GAY TIMES’ Elevate Emerging Star in Music award.
After releasing the two-part‘Near Life Experience’ mixtape, L Devine headed home to the sanctity of her family and friends in Whitley Bay. Freed from previous expectations, she could once again nurture those relationships and rediscover who she truly was.
Expect much more from L Devine soon…
