Diva Deva

Musician — Cantabria

01Profile

A Diva Deva Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Deva Icilma Joseph Fernández-Regatillo. I grew up in Cantabria. My dad is Caribbean but he was born and raised in the UK. My mom is Spanish.

What do you do?
I sing and get to be creative for a living.

Describe your style in three words?
Hyped up, simple, complicated.

What's the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Seun Kuti, I was about 10 years old then. Back in the day, I couldn’t really understand the meaning of what I had the pleasure to see, nowadays I wish I could remember even more about it. 'Black Times'.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Bob Marley and The Wailers Jarabe de Palo, and The Famous Flames. There’s always a band to a singer so that’s a very difficult question for me, that’s why I decided to add one to the list!. I think these groups pretty much resume my whole childhood.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Black culture. I am sure people will understand my answer.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
OHHHHH. Too many people but to me, in my heart, Amy Winehouse. I just think that her situation nowadays would’ve been treated in a different way. With a different perspective. She had so many issues as well as a few people trying to understand what being in a world full of temptations and bad people could actually do to her personality and the way she lived her life, which was full of blessings.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Every stage is my favourite one. if it had no complications, artists will relate to this. That's the truth behind it. However, I really enjoyed Festival BLAM.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Ottis Redding. When I listen to his music, I get to really feel his pain. He preferred to feel pain instead of nothing.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Consciously, 'Don’t Stop The Music' by Rihanna. I had a red MP3 and I would play it again and again on Saturday mornings, I remember that bunk bed as if it was yesterday.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Rude' by MAGIC! I had too many phases. I was listening to Reggaeton, but this is perfect to define my teenage years.

One record you would keep forever?
'Yours Truly' by Ariana Grande. It made me fall in love with singing.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Miss Understood' by Bhad Bhabie.

A song you wished you had written?
'Wet Dreamz' by J Cole.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Cavani' by 44Svvage.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Linda' by Miguel Bosé.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Bankrupt' by Cuban Doll.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
'Emotional' by KAMILLE.

 

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Deva Icilma Joseph Fernández-Regatillo. I grew up in Cantabria. My dad is Caribbean but he was born and raised in the UK. My mom is Spanish.

What do you do?
I sing and get to be creative for a living.

Describe your style in three words?
Hyped up, simple, complicated.

What's the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Seun Kuti, I was about 10 years old then. Back in the day, I couldn’t really understand the meaning of what I had the pleasure to see, nowadays I wish I could remember even more about it. 'Black Times'.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Bob Marley and The Wailers Jarabe de Palo, and The Famous Flames. There’s always a band to a singer so that’s a very difficult question for me, that’s why I decided to add one to the list!. I think these groups pretty much resume my whole childhood.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Black culture. I am sure people will understand my answer.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
OHHHHH. Too many people but to me, in my heart, Amy Winehouse. I just think that her situation nowadays would’ve been treated in a different way. With a different perspective. She had so many issues as well as a few people trying to understand what being in a world full of temptations and bad people could actually do to her personality and the way she lived her life, which was full of blessings.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Every stage is my favourite one. if it had no complications, artists will relate to this. That's the truth behind it. However, I really enjoyed Festival BLAM.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Ottis Redding. When I listen to his music, I get to really feel his pain. He preferred to feel pain instead of nothing.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Consciously, 'Don’t Stop The Music' by Rihanna. I had a red MP3 and I would play it again and again on Saturday mornings, I remember that bunk bed as if it was yesterday.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Rude' by MAGIC! I had too many phases. I was listening to Reggaeton, but this is perfect to define my teenage years.

One record you would keep forever?
'Yours Truly' by Ariana Grande. It made me fall in love with singing.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Miss Understood' by Bhad Bhabie.

A song you wished you had written?
'Wet Dreamz' by J Cole.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Cavani' by 44Svvage.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Linda' by Miguel Bosé.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Bankrupt' by Cuban Doll.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
'Emotional' by KAMILLE.