INTERVIEW: Devan Garcia
Do you love Dominick Fike and SZA? Well, we’ve got the perfect artist for you. Devan Garcia is an up and coming artist from Tampa, Florida and now living the California dream as a genre-less artist.
We got the chance to sit down and discuss with him about his upcoming single “Dead Presidents” and his previous releases and what he’s been up to since his last single “REINCARNATION.”
Photos by Kay Pham-Nguyen (@kaaysphotos)
How did you get started in the music industry and what inspired you to become an artist?
I started making music because I have ADHD, intensely, and music was the only thing my brain really just could focus on. I played sports my whole life, growing up in Florida that's the only thing you can do besides going to the beach and I drummed forever and I was really good at that but it just didn’t full satisfy my soul though, it didn’t give me fulfillment it was more like I was good at it and I liked it. I’m a very all or nothing kinda guy so once I figured out music, I was actually inspired by the Justin Bieber movie Never Say Never and it really gave me hope, to be honest, like there’s this cool looking kid with long hair just like me and this is cool I wanna try this and I haven’t looked back. I’ve just dedicated my entire life to becoming an artist and finding my own voice.
So for your last single “REINCARNATION,” what was the creative process behind that?
I’m so happy you brought that record up. There was a time last year, where there were so many sessions and so many songs written overall. It really felt like there was a whole philosophical process behind it and I’m a very intentional creator, like what if Coldplay, Paris Texas and Rihanna had a baby, obviously they’re big polar opposites and let’s make that. Honestly, with it all I was just like I’m gonna go into the studio with my buddy Zach, who I made the song with, Zach Sorgen, he’s amazing. I told him I wanted to make the least complicated song i’ve ever made and I freestyle the entire song, Zach is my witness. I just went into it; freestyled it & it was insane. The little percussions on the record too was literally made from a pen on Zach’s desk and drummed it, pitched it down and turned it into my drums. Then Zach went crazy with the piano and that was it— “REINCARNATION” was born.
You also recently released a song with Disney called “It’s Wondrous,” what was the creative process behind that?
It was very quick and easy, I recorded it in 30 minutes. I was originally just supposed to be the demo singer for it and a couple months later the guy who wrote the song hit me up telling me nobody could cut it and just do the song like me and then we ended up working with Disney. I would say it was a super easy process. I recorded the demo in 30 minutes and then probably got Starbucks after.
What is your favorite song you have made?
It’s not out yet, but with my released music I’d definitely say “Nocturnal Joyrides.” I think it's a fun song and not really that deep of a song and it’s really fun and that's what I love about it the most. I made it in an hour with Johnny Cash’s grandson, Alex Schwoebel, he's amazing and such a creative and talented producer. He just came over to my place and we did it and created “Nocturnal Joyrides.”
What artists inspire you the most?
SZA first and foremost. I've been a stan of SZA since the Z era, before CNTRL was released when she was whisper-singing and people were like ‘what is this whisper singing?’ I’ve just loved her vibe and everything she has created from the past to present. Frank Ocean, of course another amazing artist, Jean Dawnson; The Beatles are huge too. I love old music & I mean like classical music that can tell a story. Jon Bellion, Young Thug and Travis Scott. I just love music and so many different genres as you can tell we literally went from classical music to Travis Scott. Oh, and also Lola Young— she’s like an up & coming artist and I think she's just amazing. And also Dominic Fike is definitely a huge influence on me.
Any new releases we should be expecting?
My next single is called “Dead Presidents” and it’s gonna be released on July 21st and I think this is gonna be the one for me. I’ve dealt with a lot of challenges before with music & without it and I think this is something my life has led me to. I’m so excited for this new, big chapter of my life and putting myself first; being able to put out new music for not only myself but for everyone out there. Definitely a big year for me, I’m super excited.
PRE-SAVE “DEAD PRESIDENTS” HERE
WHERE TO FIND DEVAN GARCIA
TikTok | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music