Vanessa Felix caught up with Bajan-born UK artist DeeVine before Notting Hill
Carnival 2024, to talk about her career as a businesswoman, musician and more.
What is your name?
My stage name is DeeVine. But my full name is Denise Walke-Phillips.
Can you describe yourself in just three words?
I choose to live my life as a loyal, dedicated and sensitive person.
Who is DeeVine, the entrepreneur?
My friend and I are in partnership with our own business, Deevine Medical Aesthetics. My business started in 2022 after completing a course to become a paediatric nurse. We decided to go ahead with the concept of opening an independent practice to avoid being mistreated unfairly by the NHS.
I’m a soca artist too. I can pitch my own ideas which can be transformed into unusual visions seen in many of my soca-inspired artistic videos. Lastly, I am DeeVine, an entrepreneur who takes risks and never stops achieving what I set out to do.
Why are there so few female soca artists in the UK?
I believe that in years to come more UK female soca artists will dominate the UK soca scene. The majority of UK soca artists like myself were born and raised in the Caribbean.
Do you travel to Barbados often?
I need to travel to Barbados often so I can reconnect with my roots and
culture. Visiting my birthplace helps me to write, perform and promote my music to a wider range of audiences, such as people from the West Indies, tourists and visitors. I also build relationships with music producers in Barbados.
Are your ideas different from those of other soca artists?
Well, I wouldn’t say my ideas are different; my style is unique.
Can you tell us about your collaborations with Spice and Problem Child?
To start with, I handed my trust to someone from Barbados who helped me to manage my career at the time, and held a strong friendship with Spice. This person saw an opportunity to speak about my style of music to the Queen of Dancehall. As a result of this, Spice asked to hear one of my songs. The track she adored was Whine Like Weh. In 2013, we constructed another version of Whine Like Weh in Jamaica and Barbados.
Problem Child also discovered how talented I am. So we worked together in London to create a single entitled Bash It. Bash It received recognition in the soca scene, so he wrote my next single, Know Bout We, in St. Kitts. Surprisingly, Ricardo Drue and Problem Child loved the Yabbadash Riddim used for Know Bout We, and asked if they could produce other songs on the riddim; I can reference at least two songs. Starring, produced by Problem Child and Street Party, composed by Ricardo Drue, featuring King Onyan. I’m grateful to have met Problem Child and Spice in the early stages of my development as an artist.
I believe that someone has copied your songs in the past? What effect have their actions had on your career?
In 2017, a female Bajan soca artist stole my song, Same Way. I bought this track from Jason Shaft, a Trinidadian songwriter; this song was given to me by him. Moving on, I was not happy at all. So, I confronted Shaft to ask why he re-sold my song to another artist. It was out of his mind that he sold the track to me first. This state of affairs was broadcast on Barbados TV news, was a headline story in the newspaper. Just recently, I was in Barbados for the Crop Over. It is funny that Same Way is still being sung by the same person.
Are there artists from the UK or the Caribbean who you would love to work with?
The few legends I admire are Ed Sheeran, Kes The Band, Mavado and Nadia Batson. They are representatives of dancehall, soca, Brit pop and blues (R&B). The main reason for selecting these artists is to gain attention from every Caribbean island.
UK artists are actually multiskilled in the studio, and can make fantastic music. Adding to this, performers, soloists and bands from the Caribbean will surprise themselves to discover all types of melodies and beats that can be composed by collaborating with UK artists.
What or who are your inspirations?
My inspirations are my family, God, nature, inspiring others, appreciating beauty in people and living a simple life.
Do you apply these inspirations in your music?
Yes, of course. God keeps me grounded and focused. My family and friends are very supportive. They encourage me to keep on recording music when I feel low in my feelings. Being around nature helps to clear my mind so I am able to write lyrics for new songs.
It is also recognisable from my personal and music videos that I love to express the beauty in people and cherish life to the fullest. My aim is to share how I am feeling through my music. I feel happy. My other goal is to always inspire people from around the world not to overthink situations.
Is there more to come from DeeVine?
There is always more to come from DeeVine. Watch this space!
What singles or EPs have you released so far?
I have released a collection of EP’s & singles starting from the year 2019 to 2024: Boyonize, Bounce, Whine Like Weh featuring Spice, We Coming, Vibez, Sweet Love, One Night, L’ Amour, It’s Only You, Little Bit, Oh Gosh, Mama and Jam for Life. Right now, I’m in the process of filming a music video for my new song, Make Me Feel It. In the meantime, the track may be found on Spotify.
Where have you performed this year?
This summer I was in the line-up of a number of events. I enjoyed performing at concerts and celebrations this year; to list a few, Ibiza Soca Festival, Barbados Crop Over 2024, Ipswich Festival, Carnival Culture in the Park, Soca at the Tab and Calypso at the Tab hosted by Martin Jay for Nottting Hill Carnival.
Keep up with DeeVine via any of her socials YouTube and Instagram.
