Devon's music is distinct and truly authentic. With a patchwork of experiences and a huge fascination of people, she is a known and loved performer and writer in her hometown, Charlottesville, VA. Devon has just finished recording her sophomore album "Long Sleeve Story", built from the wealth of musically gifted personas that have always defined Charlottesville.
"Long Sleeve Story" was produced by friend and fellow Charlottesville resident Stefan Lessard. Stefan brings to the record a culmination of his own experiences playing bass with his long time project, The Dave Matthews Band. "He had just come back from recording DMB's latest album 'Everyday' in L.A. The feel we had, working together, was incredibly comfortable and creative," says Devon.
The musicians who join her on the new album are some of Charlottesville's finest. In addition to Devon and Stefan, the cast for the Long Sleeve Story includes drummer Nate Brown (Everything, Gibb Droll), bassist Dave Saull (Hate Holiday, The Crosstops, Happy World) and legendary jazz trumpeter John D'earth (Miles Davis, Bruce Hornsby, DMB).
"The difference here, from my first album was the heat of excitement and
creativity that was a constant during our time in the studio. We all knew that there was something magical happening, and it made the work into an adventure of sorts."
"Long Sleeve Story," has veered away from the sound of Devon's first album, self-titled, which can best be described as folk. This new album certainly has more edge, more rock. Says Devon, "I am so proud of this album. It feels so honest and really shows the intensity was put into it."
Devon has an unusual history. She was raised on a commune called Twin Oaks, located fifty miles outside of Charlottesville, VA. Devon says that, for her, both personally and musically, Twin Oaks was a wonderful place to grow up. "I was forever being sung to and singing myself. Music was celebrated and was a constant from way back." Her first guitar lessons (at age 11) were from a fellow community member.
At 15, Devon started playing on the downtown mall in Charlottesville. Early 1999 marked the release of 16 year old Devon's debut CD (self-titled) which featured Stefan Lessard on bass, Rod Coles on drums and producer John Alagia (DMB, Ben Folds Five, Vertical Horizon). In that same year Devon was voted "Best local musician without a band " in the "Best of Charlottesville" readers' awards. In 2000, she was voted "Star in the Making".
Devon's powerful voice translates her own experiences into song. This and her subtle, demanding stage presence leave no one unaffected. "There is not a vast difference between what I write in my journal and what comes out onstage."
Her first album has since sold seven thousand copies and has taken her around the
country five times on national tours. For two summers running Devon has appeared on the second stage of Dave Matthews amphitheatre tours. She will be hitting the road Fall 2001, both solo and with her new band to support "Long Sleeve Story."
