Review Fix Exclusive: SONG PREMIERE: Devon Talks ‘We Rise Up’ And More

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Devon, who discusses her new track, “We Rise Up,” as well as her new EP and collaboration with UFC/ESPN via a  feature track placed in the UFC docuseries, Fight Island: Declassified, produced by Dana White

About Devon:

A staple of the music scene in NYC and Philadelphia, playing Bowery Electric, Mercury Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, Hard Rock Cafe and World Cafe Live, Devon has amassed a fervored regional following with passionate performances. WXPN, an influential NPR station in Philly, applauded “Her lyrics, direct and highly personal, combined with an eccentricity, bubbly and beaming,” while the Queens Gazette was equally captivated, calling her set, â€œWarm & inviting.” Within the current Safer-At-Home terrain, she continues to connect with fans with a steady stream of sense and sensibility.

For more info, please visit https://www.devonsounds.com.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

Devon: My earliest memory of music is from when I was four years old. My parents took me to see Billy Joel at what is now the Wells Fargo Center in Philly, and I immediately knew that I wanted to do THAT.

Songwriting and poetry came first for me, as I started trying to find words to describe my thoughts and feelings. I learned guitar from my older brother and piano from my dad, and over time I figured out how to put it all together. It is now my pleasure to write and produce fun, empowering, alt-pop music!

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

Devon: I typically start with a lyric or with an interesting phrase. From there I begin to create a track to express that sentiment in a melodic / sonic way, and then I work outwards to figure out how the rest of the song will support the idea.

My musical journey started with poetry and a piano, so my songs typically start in a somewhat stripped state – it’s exciting to be able to build more elaborate musical worlds in which my ideas can exist, but I often end up coming back to the acoustic versions of my songs time and time again. I’m actually going to release the piano version of “Careful” (off my new EP Sitting Up Straight https://soundcloud.com/devonsongs/sets/devon/s-4v7DS) later next month because I want to share the original expression of the song and let listeners into my creative process a little more.

Review Fix: What inspires you?

Devon: Other art inspires the nuances in my own music. From a lyric perspective, I admire songwriters like Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), Sara Bareilles, Sam Melo (Rainbow Kitten Surprise), and Joni Mitchell. Production-wise, I’m a big fan of The 1975 and Cautious Clay. In terms of imaging and aesthetic, I love digging deeper into impressionism and abstraction.

I am inspired by all of the incredible art that already exists in the world, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to share my own work in the hopes that it might resonate with others in the way that my favorite creations do with me.

Review Fix: What does music mean to you?

Devon: Music to me is a means of self-discovery.

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

Devon: It tastes like lemon drops, and I think you’ll love it.

Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?

Devon: While my recorded music leans pretty alt-pop, my live performances tend to look more like a rock show. An exciting aspect of this new record “We Rise Up” was getting the chance to bring some of that live energy into the studio!

Review Fix: What inspired your latest single, We Rise Up?

Devon: For most of this year, I’ve been focused on my recently released EP Sitting Up Straight. My brother Christian has been playing lead guitar on my new poppy bops, in addition to creating his own new rock album, and through the collaborations, we ended up writing this hybrid track “We Rise Up” that rocks but that pops as well. It’s so exciting that this special record found a home with Fight Island!

Review Fix: How did the collab w/ UFC/ESPN come together?

Devon: Between the two of us, my brother and I have had our music featured in more than a dozen programs, including some NASCAR broadcasts. Earlier this summer, we were approached by executive producer Rory Karpf, who does a lot of work with NASCAR, the NFL, Netflix, and ESPN, among other outlets, about the possibility of writing an original song for the new ESPN+ show Fight Island. We’re huge fans of Rory’s work, and it was such an honor that he thought of us for this awesome spot!

Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2020/2021?

Devon: Since it looks like we’ll be staying home for a bit longer, I personally want to step up my vegan cooking game. I would also love to get better at skateboarding / rollerblading so that I stand a fighting chance at becoming a TikTok star :P 

Review Fix: What’s next?

Devon: I just released my new EP Sitting Up Straight earlier this month, and I am beyond stoked to be sharing “We Rise Up” with you now! I will also be releasing an acoustic version of “Careful” off my new EP later next month, and I have a whole bunch of new tunes ready for next year. Follow me on Instagram to learn more about the new happenings as they happen in real time! @devonsounds

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Devon: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat! It’s a pleasure to share my new music with you, and the love and support on “We Rise Up” means the world. Y’all rock!