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

Hi Devon, why did you pursue a creative career?
I don’t know how else to be other than a creative person. Being in the confines of a 9-5, brainless job where you don’t get to grow and challenge your creativity sounds like death to me. This absolutely works for a lot of people, they like stability. I’ve been to school, worked retail jobs, and I don’t know maybe I’m a bossy gal but I like to be my own boss. I’ve always assumed leadership positions, being the lead of a band, head of a project etc. I don’t really sit idly by for the most part. Songwriting Is anything but easy. It’s brutal, strenuous, sometimes unrewarding work. But when it does work out, and there’s a song that just makes sense to me, sonically and lyrically, it expands my mind. All I want to do in this life is seek, explore, and grow. I want to see things and cultures and inspire people. I believe an artists career is extremely hard and honest work, work that not many want to do. But im willing to do it because I know this is where I thrive.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is a mix of storytelling and autobiographical works. I really love to touch on topics seedy and controversial topics, as I feel they are more honest. My beliefs in what makes someone a “good person” is something I heavily speak about. Not outright, but it’s all over my songwriting. My whole message with my music is no BS, nothing fake. I lay myself bare for everyone to see because I want people to not feel so alone. Mental health plays a big role in my art. As I have struggled with anxiety/depression, I want other people to know that they are not alone in their feelings. I truly do feel like what sets me apart from others if my inability to lie with my music, message, marketing, etc… I have always loved darker things, taking inspiration from Tim Burton. So I mix together both light and dark concepts. Whether it be the song has a light sound but a dark meaning, or the other way around. I quit music when I was 15, hiding from who I was so people wouldn’t keep picking on me. Well, it found me again a year later and I never looked back. Being hated on made me who I am today, being around the fake and the plastic of Hollywood. I try my hardest to be good, to be humble, but one thing that has been hard for me has been, well, me. I am my own worst enemy. I actively try not to heavily criticize myself but it’s hard. I will always keep trying to not be so hard on myself, but who knows if it’ll ever stop. Everyone out there who thinks they are weird, they don’t have enough friends, they aren’t enough, I feel like that too. So I want people to know, through my music, that I am here for them and they are here for me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Soooo for food, I am the biggest sushi fan. Sugarfish and Teru sushi are absolute musts when in Studio City. Also LA has the most beautiful wineries, so id take them to Cielo Farms, The Old Place & Cornell Wines, and StoneHaus to get some wine and see how pretty the Malibu mountains are. For bars, I really dont like places that are too fancy honestly I am a big tavern fan. So I’d take them to Formans whiskey tavern, Idle Hour, Goldline, and The Laurel Tavern. If we wanna go out and dance, my favorites in LA are Blue Mondays at Boardners, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Breakroom 86, and good times at Davey Waynes. Can’t forget my favorite goth and oddity shops! My favs are Vulture Culture, The Music Museum, and Momento Mori.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a huge shoutout to my parents honestly. Most people don’t get the chance to have parents that are supportive of their artist career, and mine definitely are. They have always believed in me, helping me make my first music video at 10 years old. My mom pushed me to be a hard worker and my dad told me to keep finding what you love to do. My dad is completely business oriented, and mom is completely creative oriented, so I have the best of both worlds. I have both of their logic passed down to me which I take deep into consideration. Without my mom driving me to auditions, taking me to singing lessons, and without my dad showing me music that he loved and helping make my music happen, I wouldn’t be here. That’s something I am so so thankful for.

Website: www.devonthompsonmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devonthompsonmusic?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@officialdevonthompson?si=_WemYjBOFXh9qGEN

Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@devonthompsonmusic?_t=8kluh9sFN9O&_r=1
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Kc2fveBGCYTxAmmAzkXDB?si=BAdo082JTXWXZkQP9aCopw

Image Credits
Kelly Walsh

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