New Music Report: Emerging Artist of the Week - Devin Dawson

Devin Dawson

A few years ago, a video mashing up Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" and "Style" went absolutely viral. The video was from two singer/songwriters -- one of them being budding country artist Devin Dawson. The 28-year-old, originally from Orangevale, California released his debut single "All On Me" in February 2017, and then went out on the road with Maren Morris on her "Hero Tour." 

Now, with the arrival of 2018, Devin has released his debut full-length album Dark Horse. Dawson's very first album features twelve songs, including "All on Me," and other previously released songs like "Symptoms," "Asking For A Friend," and the record's title track "Dark Horse."

Devin's music is unique to the country genre, and he's influenced by many different types of genres. Having played in and toured with metal band Shadow of Colossus after high school, he tells iHeartRadio, that is "kind of like a foundation for influencing the music that [he] makes." However, Devin also grew up listening to country, soul, and R&B, which has also noticeably had an impact on him. 

On Dark Horse, Devin worked with producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town, Brothers Osborne), and says of working with Jay, "He pulled things out of me, once we got the songs together, that I never knew I even had. And he stitched everything really well together, even though all the songs, each one stands alone on its own, they all have this really common thread because of his voice and his ear on it."

Devin Dawson

Devin says of his new album, "I like to describe it as a new Nashville sound. There's country in the way I let you in. There’s soul in my melodies and voice. And there’s a lot of rock in the energy – I'm not afraid to get heavy. I was like '[Jay], let's do whatever we want. Let’s make it dark, let's make it sexy. Let's say things that people aren't saying right now.'"

He adds, "This is it. I ain't turning back."

Read more about Devin and his debut album Dark Horse HERE & listen to some of the songs from the record below.


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