Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 4, 2026

De'Wayne

De'Wayne Jackson, known professionally as De'Wayne, is an American musician, singer and songwriter from Spring, Texas. He released his debut album Stains in 2021, a second album My Favorite Blue Jeans in 2022 and a third album June in 2025. His music encompasses a combination of rock, funk, and hip-hop.

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Jul 4, 2026
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De'Wayne
Born
De'Wayne Jackson

(1995-06-27) June 27, 1995
Spring, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2009–present
Labels
Websiteyeahdewayne.com

De'Wayne Jackson (born June 27, 1995), known professionally as De'Wayne, is an American musician, singer and songwriter from Spring, Texas. He released his debut album Stains in 2021, a second album My Favorite Blue Jeans in 2022 and a third album June in 2025. His music encompasses a combination of rock, funk, and hip-hop.

Early life and education

De'Wayne Jackson was born on June 27, 19951 in Houston.2 He grew up in a large family in the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas. From 12 to 17, he sang in his church choir.3 De'Wayne moved from Spring to Los Angeles in 2015, when he was 19 years old.34

Career

Four months after arriving in Los Angeles, he met his first manager, Naveed, who would help him get signed to the Madden Brothers' music company MDDN. While attempting to launch his music career, De'Wayne worked odd jobs.4 In 2016, he released the single, "Best Friend".5

In May 2017, he released the EP, Don't Be Afraid.5 In 2018, he released a collaborative single with Chase Atlantic, "Adios".5 In November 2019, he dropped his surname from his stage name and was the subject of a mini-documentary commissioned by Dr. Martens, De'Wayne: Tough As You.6 The same month, he joined Waterparks on tour across the United States.67

In 2020, he signed with Hopeless Records,5 for a two-album record deal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he completed work on his debut album, Stains. The album's lead single, "National Anthem", was released in June 2020, in the backdop to the George Floyd killing and Black Lives Matter protests.89 Stains was released in June 2021.

After appearing at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2022, De'Wayne released his second studio album, My Favorite Blue Jeans, in October 2022.1011 In late 2022, he released his second album, My Favorite Blue Jeans. The album features guest appearences from Poorstacy, Grandson, Good Charlotte, and I Don't Know How But They Found Me.12 Shortly afterwards he signed with Concord and Fearless Records.

In June 2024, he released another EP, I Want You More Than Anybody Wants You. In July 2025, De'Wayne released his third album, June.13 To promote the album, he toured North America with Red Leather in June 2025.

Critical reception

Of his performance at the Warehouse Live in 2013, the Houston Press said "the youthful nods of opener Dewayne Jackson seemed to liven things up. Never in my life have I ever seen a rapper’s debut performance pack so much energy into every single word."14

Of his album Stains, Ones to Watch said "The eleven-track album blends the incendiary nature of his live show, a story that needs to be told, and genreless freedom.... Stains is driven by energy, emotion, excitement....The record dives into themes of identity, love, loss, and the come-up journey."15 Kerrang! said the album "will leave a mark on you, through a set of songs unremitting in their urgency and potency"16 and named it as one of the 50 best albums of 2021.17 Clash said the album was a "lifetime in the making... visceral, incendiary, emotionally-charged" and "blends multiple palettes of sound to become so much more than any label".18

Of his second album, My Favorite Blue Jeans, NME said it "injects buckets of confidence and charisma into a stale radio-rock landscape" and "No matter the vibe of the song, though, rock is unmistakably his home base, demonstrated by the unapologetically massive choruses throughout."19

Of this third album, June, Classic Rock said it "finds him mining the sounds of the 80s and 90s for inspiration. A deeply loved-up record, it stands to reason that the imprints of Prince are stamped into the yelps, raw sexiness and rooster strut of much of it."20 Meanwhile, Dork said it "feels the most vibrantly De'Wayne... he's fully embracing his forefathers in the Black lineage of rock and everything beyond".21

GR8T magazine wrote: "DE’WAYNE does not just perform—he detonates. With a sound that fuses funk, rock, hip-hop, and alternative soul, his music channels the creative cords of rebellion and the clarity of purpose. It’s an electrifying collision of styles, much like the artist himself.22

Awards and nominations

Houston Press Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2014 Themselves Best New Act Nominated 23

Discography

Studio albums

  • Stains (2021)
  • My Favorite Blue Jeans (2022)
  • June (2025)

EPs

  • Halftime (with Donnie Houston) (2014)
  • Don't Be Afraid (2017)
  • Top Man (2019)
  • I Want You More Than Anybody Wants You (2024)
References

References

  1. Alonso, Katrina (May 25, 2017). "Discovery: De'Wayne Jackson". Interview. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  2. Pearlman, Mischa (August 5, 2025). ""I like to keep it sexy. I love that I'm pushing things forward": How De'Wayne discovered his true self". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  3. Crudgington, Kate (July 7, 2021). "De'Wayne is the outsider championing inclusivity and genre non-conformity | Interview". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  4. "Spotlight on Revolt: De'Wayne Jackson "Never Change"". Revolt. October 31, 2016. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  5. Battoclette, Augusta (March 18, 2021). "De'Wayne and Awsten Knight team up for cathartic new track "Perfume"—watch". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  6. Pettigrew, Jason (November 6, 2019). "Dr. Martens presents hip-hop force De'Wayne Jackson in new mini-doc". Alternative Press. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  7. Templeton, Mackenzie (November 13, 2019). "Waterparks announce support change days before 'Fandom' tour begins". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  8. Gardner, Alex (May 20, 2017). "De'Wayne Jackson Fights His Inner Demons in the Intense "Watching" Video". Pigeons and Planes. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  9. "Hear De'Wayne call for unity and change in America in "National Anthem"". Alternative Press. June 11, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  10. "De'Wayne Finds the Right Fit in Rock Music with Album "My Favorite Blue Jeans"". Marvin. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  11. Shutler, Ali (October 31, 2022). "De'Wayne: exuberant alt-rock star wants to "be David Bowie"". NME. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  12. Loftin, Steve (October 31, 2022). "De'Wayne: "I don't want to be an indie artist forever"". Upset. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  13. Roberts, Rachel (May 14, 2025). ""The bigger your heart is, it's a superpower": How De'Wayne took the next step on his new album". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  14. Caldwell, Brandon (October 2, 2013). "DeLorean at Warehouse Live, 10/1/2013". Houston Press. Archived from the original on November 8, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  15. Rincon, Alessandra (June 18, 2021). "With 'Stains,' De'Wayne Aims to Become a Generation-less and Genre-less Star [Q&A]". Ones to Watch. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  16. Hickie, James (June 18, 2021). "Album review: De'Wayne – Stains". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  17. Richardson, Jake (December 10, 2021). "The 50 best albums of 2021". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  18. Holden, Finlay; ClashMusic (June 17, 2021). "De'Wayne - Stains". Clash. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  19. Hughes, Spencer (October 27, 2022). "De'Wayne - 'My Favourite Blue Jeans' review: say hello to a new rock'n'roll powerhouse". NME. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  20. Johnston, Emma (August 1, 2025). ""Bursting with heart and character": De'Wayne's June is the sound of a musician with grand ambitions". Classic Rock. Retrieved November 30, 2025 – via Louder.
  21. Loftin, Steven (July 30, 2025). "Finding June: De'Wayne's third act starts here". Dork. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  22. "Digital Cover: De'Wayne". GR8T Magazine. July 30, 2025. Archived from the original on November 30, 2025. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  23. "The 2014 Houston Press Music Award Nominees". Houston Press. June 24, 2014. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
External links
Bibliography

Bibliography