Virginia to Vegas

Derik John Baker (born January 31, 1990), known as Virginia to Vegas, is an American-born Canadian singer and songwriter. He is based in Toronto. Today, he sometimes resides in Los Angeles.[1] He is best known for his gold and platinum-certified singles, "We Are Stars", "Lights Out" "Selfish" and "Just Friends" released through Wax Records and Ultra Records.

Virginia to Vegas
Virginia To Vegas in Montréal 2017
Background information
Birth nameDerik John Baker
Born (1990-01-31) January 31, 1990
Virginia, United States
OriginGuelph, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • Producer
Instruments
Years active2013–present
LabelsWax Records, Ultra Records, Universal Music Group
Associated actsAlyssa Reid
Websitevirginiatovegas.com

Beginnings

Derik John Baker born in the United States, he was raised in Guelph, Ontario, where he attended high school at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (GCVI). After high school, Derik attended Sheridan College for studies in Travel and Tourism.

Career

2013–14: Career beginnings and Vol. I

Virginia to Vegas was signed to Canadian and U.S music company Wax Records in July 2013, after label executive, Jamie Appleby, discovered him on YouTube. The first single "We Are Stars" was released on January 7, 2014, and entered the Canadian Singles Top 100 chart at 94 on week 5, February 1, 2014, peaked at 14 and stayed for one week.[2] On November 10, 2014, Virginia to Vegas released his debut EP Vol. I, which includes his Platinum-certified debut single "We Are Stars".[3][4]

2015–16: Utopian

Virginia to Vegas released a new single, "Our Story", on May 4, 2015.[5] On September 2, 2016, he released a new single, "Lights Out", which samples Rockwell's 1984 single, "Somebody's Watching Me".[6] That fall, he announced that his debut studio album would be released by the end of 2016.[7] Utopian was released on December 2, 2016 and features all four of his singles released through that date.[8]

2017–2019: Hartland St.

On February 24, 2017, Virginia to Vegas released a new single called "Selfish".[9] On November 8, he released another single called "Emotions".[10] His next single "Yesterday" was released on October 12, 2018.[11] Finally, he released "Just Friends" on May 24, 2019.[12] All these songs are featured on his second EP Hartland St., which was released on June 14, 2019.[13]

2020–present: A Constant State of Improvement and Don't Wake Me, I'm Dreaming

Only months after the release of Hartland St., Virginia to Vegas released the single "Betterman" on February 14, 2020, followed by an EP titled A Constant State of Improvement on February 28, 2020, which includes the song "Betterman". On October 30, 2020, he released another EP, Don't Wake Me, I'm Dreaming,[14] which includes the lead single "Palm Springs (The Way You Made Me Feel)", released on September 18.[15]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details
Utopian

Extended plays
Title EP details
Vol. I
  • Released: November 10, 2014
  • Label: Wax
  • Format: Digital download
Hartland St.
  • Released: June 14, 2019
  • Label: Wax
  • Format: Digital download
A Constant State of Improvement
  • Released: February 28, 2020
  • Label: Wax
  • Format: Digital download
Don't Wake Me, I'm Dreaming
  • Released: October 30, 2020
  • Label: Wax
  • Format: Digital download

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications Album
CAN
[18]		 CAN
AC
[19]		 CAN CHR
[20]		 CAN
Hot AC
[21]
2014 "We Are Stars"
(featuring Alyssa Reid)		 14131014 Utopian
"Don't Fight the Music" 97303336
2015 "Our Story" ——4732
2016 "Lights Out" 40121014
2017 "Selfish" 7211912 Hartland St.
"Emotions" ——3439
2018 "Yesterday" ——30—
2019 "Just Friends" 50583
2020 "Betterman" (featuring HydraPC) 488156 A Constant State of Improvement
"Palm Springs (The Way You Made Me Feel)"[15] ———— Don't Wake Me, I'm Dreaming
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Awards

Virginia to Vegas performed at the 2014 Canadian Radio Music Awards where he was nominated for the Heartseeker Award. His radio success with his first three singles "We Are Stars", "Don't Fight the Music", and "Our Story" contributed to him being nominated for Pop Artist or Group of the Year at the 2015 Sirius XM Indie Awards.[26]

"We Are Stars", "Lights Out" and "Selfish" all earned Virginia to Vegas Socan awards for pop recordings of the year.

In 2015 Virginia to Vegas was awarded at the Canadian Radio Music Awards for the Factor Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

He received a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2018. [27]

References
  1. "Virginia to Vegas in Studio". CHFI. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  2. "Virginia to Vegas and Alyssa Reid - We Are Stars". ACharts.us. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  3. "Virginia to Vegas". The Feldman Agency. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  4. Pham, Vivian. "Listen—Virginia To Vegas Releases New Single 'Colourful'". Pop Dust. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  5. "Don't Fight the Music - Virginia to Vegas | Release Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  6. Kennedy, John R (November 8, 2016). "Virginia to Vegas Channels Rockwell In 'Lights Out'". iHeartRadio. iHeartMedia. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  7. Doole, Kerry (November 25, 2016). "Virginia To Vegas: Lights Out". FYI Music News. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  8. "Utopian by Virginia to Vegas". iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  9. "Selfish - Single by Virginia to Vegas on Apple Music", iTunes Store (Canada), retrieved July 6, 2019
  10. "Emotions - Single by Virginia to Vegas on Apple Music", iTunes Store (Canada), retrieved July 6, 2019
  11. "Yesterday - Single by Virginia to Vegas on Apple Music", iTunes Store (Canada), retrieved July 6, 2019
  12. "Just Friends - Single by Virginia to Vegas on Apple Music", iTunes Store, retrieved July 6, 2019
  13. "Hartland St. - EP by Virginia to Vegas". iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  14. "don't wake me, i'm dreaming - EP by Virginia to Vegas". Apple Music (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  15. "Palm Springs (the way you made me feel) – Single by Virginia to Vegas". Apple Music (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  16. "Vol. I - EP by Virginia to Vegas". iTunes Store (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  17. "a constant state of improvement. - EP by Virginia to Vegas". Apple Music (Canada). Apple Inc. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  18. "Virginia To Vegas Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  19. "Virginia To Vegas Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  20. "Virginia To Vegas Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  21. "Virginia To Vegas Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  22. "Canadian digital download certifications – Virginia to Vegas – We Are Stars". Music Canada.
  23. "Canadian digital download certifications – Virginia to Vegas – Lights Out". Music Canada.
  24. "Canadian digital download certifications – Virginia to Vegas – Selfish". Music Canada.
  25. "Canadian digital download certifications – Virginia to Vegas – Just Friends". Music Canada.
  26. Delmar, Sari. "2015 INDIE AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". INDIES. Sirius XM. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  27. "Arcade Fire and Daniel Caesar lead 2018 Juno Award nominations". CBC Music, February 6, 2018.
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