Dean Lewis is an Australian singer-songwriter and is best known for his 2016 single "Waves", which was certified 6× Platinum in Australia in 2019, and his 2018 single "Be Alright", which reached number one in Australia and was certified platinum within four weeks of release, eventually reaching 8x Platinum in Australia. Lewis released his debut studio albumA Place We Knew on 22 March 2019.
Career
2016–2017: Career beginnings and ''Same Kind of Different''
Lewis was inspired to pursue music after watching a live Oasis DVD in 2005. Lewis says "I remember watching Liam Gallagher walk out with this hat and red jacket and watching him with Noel, they were just the coolest guys ever. I spent the next five years watching every Oasis video – Noel Gallagher basically taught me how to write songs." Lewis signed his recording contract with Specific Music in 2014, and a major contract with Island Records and Universal Music Australia in March 2016. Lewis released his debut single "Waves" on 30 September 2016 which peaked at number 12 on the Australian ARIA Charts. The song was featured in a number of American television shows such as Suits, Greys Anatomy, Valor, Riverdale, All American, Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments and Magnum P.I.. The song has since been certified 6 x Platinum by ARIA. Lewis released "Need You Now" in April 2017 and his debut extended playSame Kind of Different in 12 May 2017 which peaked at number 27 on the ARIA Album Charts. Lewis received five ARIA Award nominations at the ARIA Music Awards of 2017. "Lose My Mind" and "Chemicals" were also released as singles from the EP and have been certified Platinum and Gold respectively.
2018–present: Debut studio album and collaborations
In June 2018, Lewis released "Be Alright". The single reached number one in Australia for five consecutive weeks, becoming his first chart-topper in the country, and has been certified eight times platinum in Australia. It also reached number one in Belgium, top five in New Zealand, Sweden and Ireland, top 10 in the Netherlands and Switzerland, top 20 in the United Kingdom and Scotland, top 30 in the United States and number one in the Billboard Adult pop chart. In January 2019, Lewis released "7 Minutes". Lewis released his debut studio album A Place We Knew on 22 March 2019. Lewis performed "Be Alright" and "Waves" at the 2019 AFL Grand Final. In 2019, Lewis signed with WME for representation in all areas. Lewis released a single in collaboration with Dutch DJ/producer Martin Garrix on 31 October 2019 called "Used to Love". Regarding the collaboration with Garrix, Lewis explains that "Since my career began, collaborations never felt like something I saw myself pursuing. As a song writer, who also sings, the entire concept just felt foreign. Until I met Martin. We spent about a week together locked behind closed doors in Amsterdam working on a song, which thought might end up be sung by someone else. But as the track progressed is started to sound a lot like me, but also very Martin. It’s a real collaboration with a guy who’s now become a great friend". An acoustic version of the song was released in 2020.
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Lewis has won three awards from 14 nominations.
