Mia Lailani and Devan Ibiza grew up surrounded by music. This powerful musical duo was born in the Bronx, and they were introduced to music at a young age by watching their father, Max Perez, work as an audio engineer and interact with musical artists. Max Perez has worked in the business for 30 years and, after bringing his children around his work, noticed that Mia and Devan showed a natural interest in music.
Devan first began his public entrance into the music world at age 11 when he caught the attention of the creators of Emulator Pro, a DJ software program. He was asked to use this technology in his mixes and DJ gigs, and his career began to rise. From there, he created his stage name: Devan Ibiza, after the Spanish island. Throughout his career, he has played major venues, including Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks and the New York Liberty.
Mia has been singing since she was two, and she wrote her first song at the age of 10. The song, “Be With You,” was written to a beat produced by her brother Devan. Since then, the two have been working together, and they’ve remarked that they foster a “special energy” when collaborating.
The two have produced a variety of music, both separately and collaboratively. One of their recent releases, “Held Up in New York City,” touches on the current state of NYC during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mia’s music is influenced by what she feels and experiences, and current events often impact her storytelling. The production of this particular song began when Devan was producing a beat that reminded them of New York City. When Mia was brought in to write lyrics, they realized that a song she had been writing on the piano was in the same key.
“Held Up in New York City” touches on the resilience and determination that is innate to New York, and its music video highlights the efforts of essential workers during these trying times.
Mia and Devan recognize the immense power of music and its ability to connect with emotions. Music is a way of storytelling that can transport the listener, ease their pain, and connect people through shared experience. That being said, their song “Held Up in New York City” is not the only one by them that touches on the trials of the human experience. Back in 2018, Mia wrote a song, “MAMMA SAID,” that expresses her thoughts, emotions, and experiences on world issues like climate change.
Now, however, the song resonates across a wider variety of topics. With the presidential election, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the unrest in the United States, the song holds an even deeper meaning. Revisiting the song within this new context, Mia, Devan, and their father realized the importance of the message. Devan and his father worked tirelessly to produce a video in just two days in hopes that the song could touch the hearts of their audience.
While they are both still young—Devan is 20 and Mia is 15—their passion for music shines through in their releases and the truly special energy they create when they work with one another. Currently, Devan and Mia produce songs heavily influenced by hip-hop and R&B, but their love for all music encourages them to explore and does not limit them to one creative genre as their musical style continues to develop.
Influenced by their background in the Bronx, Devan and Mia’s music is infused with elements of Latin and soul, creating their unique sound. They described their energy when working with one another as one of the most rewarding parts of their creative process. Coming up with new melodies creates a surge of excitement that sends their process forward. They both enjoy spontaneous bursts of creativity, particularly those that inspire them to begin writing songs at 12 a.m. These are unmatched moments where they can visualize the story they are telling. Furthermore, they remarked that the moment “they can visualize the video that will accompany the song, they know its special.”
Looking towards the future, the two want to grow as much as possible in their careers. Devan would love to tour his music and continue working with his sister to help take her music to the highest peak possible. Mia’s hopes are to touch others with her music and to be recognized. While fame is not of utmost importance to her, knowing that her music is reaching and impacting an audience is her goal. She also hopes to continue diversifying her musical releases and to possibly even explore acting. Being happy and sustaining their lives through a career they love is their ultimate test of success.
Mia recently released her song “Clue,” which is about grappling with your feelings for someone. The song is smooth R&B with a chill vibe and a universal message. Devan’s most recent song is “Devil on My Shoulders.” This release touches on the dichotomy of good and evil innate to everyone. All of their songs are available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.
