Meet Rose Devika: Singer-Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rose Devika and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rose, what role has risk played in your life or career?
If there is one thing I have learned it is that it takes risk to be vulnerable. It takes tremendous courage to be honest.

I was not built to be an open book. I am admittedly more than a little jaded. I have wrestled with my fair share of demons. And yet everything I do, I do with the intention of being honest.

I have always been something of a phoenix. If there is one thing I cannot stand it is monotony. I am restless to a fault. In order to build, rebuild, and create I must first burn everything to the ground. And yet the risk of starting new, the risk of rising from the ashes of what I have left behind over and over again is what drives me forward artistically.

Nearly everything that has led me to where I am now has taken risk. I moved from California to New York in 2017 when I was 18 years old with no support and no contact with my biological family, other than my little brother. I brought almost nothing with me, except for a 3/4 Yamaha Guitar my best friend had given me. I did not know how to play. New York was brutal, thrilling, and dangerous. I took so many risks while I lived there- both good and bad. They all led me to songwriting. I taught myself to play guitar and began writing songs with a passion unlike any I had known before. Songwriting became a lifeline.

After six months in New York I burned everything to the ground yet again. I risked everything and dropped out of college, severed every relationship I had built, was briefly homeless, got sober from cocaine, and then moved to Toronto, Canada, with the girl I had formed a duo, January Grit, with. We slept in the living room of my grandfather’s one-bedroom apartment.

While living in Toronto I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. I was not sure whether I would ever be able to write songs or perform again. We moved to California and I spent over a year bedridden. During that time, however, against the recommendation of my doctors, I recorded my debut album, “Here in Fahrenheit” with January Grit, even though it involved spending most of the time in the studio on the sofa covered in icepacks.

In 2019 I moved to Dallas, Texas, for absolutely no comprehensible reason, other than the need to start new once again. I chose to pursue a solo career and left January Grit behind. I had never performed on my own or released any solo material and it took a tremendous amount of strength to overcome my insecurities to do so. In December of 2020 I released my first single, “A Hell of a Lot Like You” to all streaming platforms.

Shortly after moving to Texas I found myself stuck in an abusive relationship. In order to make it through, in order to survive, I wrote songs. Writing honestly came at the risk that my partner would react with violence and anger. I decided that I would rather take that risk than be silenced.

Many of the risks I have taken are chronicled in my book, “The Anatomy of an Arsonist” which was published in January, 2021.

I am now signed to the UK label “The Animal Farm” and am songwriting as passionately as ever. With each risk I have taken my music has evolved, changed, and shifted shape. I have taught myself to play guitar, piano, bass, and drums. To have taught myself everything I know about music sometimes comes at the risk of being taken less seriously, but it is a risk I happily take.

Taking risks is ultimately what has made me the artist and person I have become.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I believe that something that sets me apart is how heavily poetry has influenced my songwriting. I began performing spoken word poetry at Da Poetry Lounge in LA at age 16, placed first in Say Word LA’s Slam Poetry competition, joined a touring poetry team, and competed at international poetry festivals. I was also nominated to be the Youth Poet Laureate of both Los Angeles and New York City. I am, and always have been, passionate about language and I believe that my journey with poetry has dramatically influenced my songwriting.

I am also passionate about every step in the process of creating a song, and this has taught me so many invaluable skills and lessons. From writing the first few lyrics of a song to configuring chord progressions to writing bass and drum parts to self-recording in my closet to producing and mixing tracks, I have learned so much about how many steps there truly are when it comes to creating a song. These steps can be beyond challenging, but the final result is worth every moment of frustration.

My journey as an artist has been far from easy, but it has been worth every moment. I struggle with tremendous insecurities when it comes to my art, but luckily I am equally stubborn and refuse to give up.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We begin our afternoon at 12th Street Park in Huntington Beach. We set a blanket out on the ground and lie in the shade of the tree where my initials are carved. I play guitar and she writes in the little blue journal she’s had forever. We walk up to 17th Street to watch the sun sink over the ocean and the sky fade into soft hues of violet and pink. When the streetlights turn, on we get into my car, (named Smith), and drive down Pacific Coast Highway. We turn the music up to a deafening volume, I open the sun roof, and she stands on the seat of the car, the upper half of her body leaning out of the sun roof, her arms raised, the wind in her hair. We drive to Bunny Hill, the overlook where you can see the oil rigs, all the city lights, and the ocean. Next we drive to Harbor House in Seal Beach, the 24-hour, 1950’s-themed diner. We get coffee. They have the best coffee. We walk to the stretch of beach that is always deserted behind Harbor House and admire the lights that curve along the coastline. We admire the miles and miles of nothingness. Then we drive to Fairfax Avenue in LA, where we stand in line at Da Poetry Lounge. We make conversation with the many artists, all from different backgrounds, all with fascinating stories to tell. When they open the doors we find seats and watch the open mic night unfold, listening breathlessly.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this interview to Brian Walker- for everything.

Website: rosedevikamusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rose_devika/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosedevika

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rose-Devika-102382784893507

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxp5N1NECrxjdFNpfhPlVog

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5VmXNuMWrj4Qd2whg0aE7p?si=ZMFkIZw8QwKJwDFv0MjKUw Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/anatomy-arsonist-Rose-Devika/dp/1643180770/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+anatomy+of+an+arsonist&qid=1619546783&sr=8-1

Image Credits
Tyler Germaine