From bedroom covers to sparkling arena lights—Devon Gabriella made the leap last year as a personally requested opener on sombr‘s Late Nights & Young Romance North American tour. Her appeal? Intimate, diaristic storytelling with a sprinkle of manifestation that keeps fans wandering back to her flower-crowned gardens (a nod to her former EP). But this chapter’s different. Now it’s about the muses who slip into her crowds, the dive bars, the dance floors. Enter ‘Old Time’s Sake,’ produced and co-written by Kevin Farzad, alongside her. We caught up with Devon to talk about what comes next.
You learned to play the drums really early on and then picked up the guitar around the age of 12, which became your primary instrument. What made drums lose the battle for your heart—and what does the guitar have that percussion just couldn’t offer?
Drums will always have a special place in my heart! After watching my dad behind the kit throughout my earliest years, I was eager to follow in his footsteps and had a pretty good sense of rhythm off the bat. But I quickly found myself emotionally drawn to the guitar- it was also much more conducive to the songs I wanted to learn and play, and then later write.
Being spiritual girlies ourselves, we’re fascinated by the idea of artists as accidental psychics writing songs in their sleep. You’ve mentioned this process before. What’s your favorite lyric that arrived via dream—and did you immediately write it down, or did you have that panic moment of “I’ll definitely remember this in the morning?”
I could talk about dreams and their meanings all day. I have extremely vivid dreams, which is a blessing and a curse. The lyrics and melodies are difficult to pin down once I wake up, but I’ve definitely been able to pick up bits and pieces. The other night, I dreamt that I was listening to a song by another musician and thinking to myself, “God, I really wish I wrote that”. I swiftly woke up and realized it was me who wrote it, because it was my dream and brain. The melody floated away in the dream abyss too quickly for me to record it, but I find those moments fascinating nonetheless.
You started posting covers at 13 but went full witness protection program with your seventh-grade classmates. Are you still that guarded, or has fame made you braver? Does a close friend listening to your music still feel more exposing than a stadium full of strangers?
I truly did go on full lockdown when I first started posting covers. I remember sitting in history class and secretly pulling out my phone to see if anyone had “disliked” or shared my singing videos. I was petrified of being made fun of. I wish I could give that little girl a hug and tell her everything will be okay! In terms of feeling guarded, I’ve definitely gained confidence over the years, but putting yourself out there in any sense is vulnerable, especially when it’s your art. With that said, I do find it hard to perform for my close friends and family, just because I have always wanted to meet their expectations of me and make them proud. I really value their opinion.
While all love songs have a muse, ‘Old Time’s Sake’ talks specifically about the artist-and-muse dynamic. What fascinates you most about that push-pull—the person who inspires the art versus the person who’s drawn into it?
That’s such a good question. As an artist, I’m constantly telling stories about my experiences- negative or positive. I find writing about another person to be a very intimate experience, because I’m creating something shared between us, regardless if it’s heard, recognized, liked, or disliked by the subject. I’m constantly inspired by others and am so grateful to be able to share my feelings and voice through art.
You made a whole ritual of crowning your band with flowers during ‘The Garden’ era. Beyond the floral coronations, how else do you cultivate that camaraderie—or are they just in it for the flower crowns at this point?
I love my band so much. Not only are they amazing musicians, but they’re also just great humans. I loved spending time with them on the road. They didn’t even question it when I asked them about crowning them on stage. But who knows… they may just like their new flower embellishments!
You’ve mentioned that every birthday and New Year’s, you get a little witchy and cast a manifestation séance. Now that the manifestations have actually come true, has the way you approach those candle-lit journal sessions changed?
They’ve actually stayed really consistent. I guess because it seems to be working! Writing things down, whether it be feelings, goals, or just a brain dump, is so important and healing to me. To see my aspirations on a page makes them feel more real and tangible and motivates me to work even harder to achieve them. I think I’ll be manifesting and journaling until I’m on my death bed.
We have to talk about your sombr moment—opening on the Late Nights & Young Romance Tour. You posted about being obsessed with ‘back to friends.’ How did that nightly exposure change your relationship to the song?
Shane is the best. Every night opening for him on that tour was so surreal. I’d go out to the crowd and watch his set every night. The energy in the room- especially during that song- was so magnetic. I get chills thinking about it. Nothing could ever make me sick of his songs, even if I’ve heard them live 28 times. They’re such amazing records.
The first frame of your latest single, ‘Old Time’s Sake,’ is a setlist. If you could steal any setlist from any show in history that isn’t your own, whose would it be, and would you frame it or just hold it close and weep?
The first one that comes to mind is Fleetwood Mac’s. Or one from Taylor Swift. I would absolutely frame it so I could just sit and stare at it all day.
From the auburn lighting to that tension-filled dance moment, the music video directed by Anne-Sophie Bine is absolutely stunning. Is there a particular frame you’d like to tattoo on people’s eyeballs — one they should linger on for a second longer?
Thank you so much! I could not be happier with how the music video turned out- it’s something out of my wildest dreams. I love the dance sequence and think it really tells the story of that push and pull. But, honestly, every frame of the video is something I’m proud of. I’m so lucky to work with such talented people!
We quite literally saw you in the garden during The Garden era—flower crowns, frolicking, that mystical energy. What type of setting are we envisioning for your new era?
A piece of The Garden will most definitely follow me throughout all of my new eras. It’s just so special and perfectly encapsulates the community we’ve built around the music. However, as an artist, I like to think I’m always evolving. A lot of the visuals for these upcoming songs took place inside a vintage-style home- lots of ethereal lighting, retro decor, and nostalgic charm, which definitely matches the energy of the music I’m making and putting out. I’m so excited.
Devon’s hitting the road for her first-ever headline tour this May, making stops in San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. Already snagged your tickets? Tell us which song you’re dying to hear live—find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Then go ahead, give ‘Old Time’s Sake’ one more spin. You know you want to.
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