devora

Our interview with “The Goth Dolly Parton” DEVORA covers the artist’s release of her new EP “God is Dead” and her experiences while being on the road with the band Bush on their tour.

“God is Dead” is the second released EP after her past EP “Outlaw”, and sparks conversation about the traditions and practices of ‘wild west’ where DEVORA grew up. Listeners will hear her influences emerge as she creates the genre “outlaw pop” as she’s called it many times.

In her month break, our very own Nicole Brunette got the chance to interview her before her tour with Bush picks back up again in April!

You have a break from touring until April, how are you feeling?

It’s been an adjustment period! On tour it’s almost like you’re in this wormhole where time doesn’t exist because you’re going and going! So it’s definitely different being back and not having every second of the day filled with crazy stuff.

So with all the structure that you get on tour, is that something you prefer?

Yes, definitely! When we’re not busy our heads start to go haywire. I love being busy and having a jam packed schedule, It’s ideal for me.

So does that busy period cause you to carve out more time to be creative within?

I would agree! When you’re on the road there isn’t as much time to be creative, but I would say this break period definitely gives me more time to be creative whereas on tour I feel more focused on the tour itself and my daily routine.

What’s your favourite thing to do between tour dates or even tours?

I usually unplug for a couple of days. I’ll go off social media and my phone and go into my cave for a couple days! But now that it’s been a couple weeks since we started this break, I’m going to go to Nashville to write for a couple weeks. One I recharge I always get back into my creative mode.

photos by Mia Rose

Your EP “God Is Dead” just came out, how was the release of that for you?

It was an amazing experience the reception was positive! It was received with open arms, as my fan base has grown, and we had so much success with this EP. It’s always nerve-wracking putting your art, or your baby, out into the world essentially. The cool thing about releasing music now is that it’s just the beginning of the process. And as you go further in time more things happen, and more people find it and listen to it! That’s such a great way to describe the process! Some people would describe it as the end as the album is finalized but it’s true, this EP is just the start for many things to come!

What is the scariest part of releasing new music, you mentioned that everything you release is essentially your ‘baby’ what else comes with that process that is intimidating?

I think all the little details are nerve-wracking. I have my team, but I am a hands-on person, so I want to make sure the roll out for everything goes well. I think letting go and letting it be organic has been difficult but well worth it.

If you could show only one song to somebody who had never listened to your music off of “God is Dead” which one would you choose?

I would choose Wild West! I think this really encompassed everything I wanted to say in the EP. I love writing songs in story form and this one is a really fun story in that way. It’s also had a really good response.

So that brings up my next question, when did the concept of this album first come to you?

Yeah, usually I start with concepts and those evolve into a skeleton of a story which eventually becomes a fully fleshed out story. After that I start to add the melody and chords to it which makes everything start coming together. Which was the case for this EP but sometimes it starts with the melody or concept but it’s always a cathartic process!

How has that process changed over the years?

When I was much younger, like as a kid, I would write stories and poems which is still the case but now I’m more concepts driven. I love songs and ideas that attach strong visuals to them.

Ah, so you said you’ve been composing for a while then, when did you first start?

I would say 5 or 6 intuitively, not really knowing what I was doing.

Oh so did you also perform for your family like so many children do?

Yes, absolutely!

***Since you’ve been writing for so long, are there specific people you show your songs in progress to in order to get honest feedback?***

My manager, my family, my partner, they’re all very blunt and honest. I kind of have a creative circle that I share things with which is a really good place because I trust their opinion!
***Out of all the songs you have released, which ones are the most emotional for you to sing?***
I think it’s probably, *Elvis* which came from my first EP. It’s more of an acoustic song which brings me back to a specific time and place. And no matter where I perform it, I’m always transported back.
*photo by Brittany Molta*

Yeah! So would you define your songs as your memories in different periods of time?

For some of them definitely! Memories and emotions that I’ve felt during certain times. I look at everything as chapters, it’s a cathartic experience to be able to put everything into song and close that chapter and move on to the next one.

Which ones do you hope to resonate with your fans the most?

I would definitely say “Elvis” and “Body Bag” which has resonated with a lot of people. Not Dead Yet has kind of been inspirational for a lot of people because it’s such a ‘go forth and rally’ kind of song.

Who are your greatest influences on your music?

Oh my gosh, I would say on the song-writing side it’s Taylor Swift. For the darker undertones, I am a HUGE Nine Inch Nails fan because they have such prolific writing for their songs.

photos by Brittany Molta

That’s definitely all heard in your music and on Instagram, you call yourself ‘Goth Dolly Parton’, where did that name come from?

Growing up in a small town, I always loved listening to country music, but I also loved the darker stuff like pop-punk and alt-rock and more of the goth industrial stuff so, I always wanted to fuse the two together. I had never heard that before with country or with shades of country, so I loved the image of taking something like Dolly Parton and turning it dark. And I think that name became the symbol of what I’ve been trying to do.

What is your favourite Dolly Parton song and would you ever consider covering it?

That would be amazing! I have a lot of favourites’’ in terms of writing style but I think it would be cool to cover “Backwoods Barbie”.

Did covid have any effect on you as an artist? Since your first single “Not Dead Yet” Came out in 2020.

Honestly most of these songs were written during the pandemic. And I saw that someone had said the Spotify and Apple music streams went down but I think people were more attentive to their phones and YouTube at that time. I think the music connected to a lot more people that it might not have if not for the pandemic and we all weren’t quarantined. The music that came out during that time was a blessing and it wouldn’t have been the same if not for the pandemic.

So was that your escape from being in quarantine for so long?

Yes, absolutely. It was a lifesaver for sure.

photo by Jim Louvau

You’ve just started touring with Bush and will be picking up with them again in April, What’s your favourite thing about that tour so far?

I love going to cities I’ve never been to! Exploring those places is so fun, especially in the South because there are so many weird stops along the way. While in Tennessee, we passed these cave exhibits on the side of the freeway you could walk into and there was a whole weird bunch of theme parks. The South has so many weird and quirky stuff in the South. Stuff that you would never see anywhere else.

What show or shows have been your favorite?

The last three have been the best which were Nashville, Louisville, Kentucky, and St. Louis. We finished off with those and they were great.

Because Nashville is such a music-centered city, did that make you feel more at home when performing?

I would say yes. It’s a city that really welcomes you with open arms. I definitely felt like I was as home for sure.

The size of the venue also changes wherever you go, does that also have any impact on your comfort in performing?

I love the big venues. They’re a lot of fun. For me, it feels easier to play in front of 5,000 people versus 20. The energy is unlike anything when you have more people.

If you could have your music, be featured in any movie or TV show, what would it be?

Ooh, I think a show like Yellowstone would be amazing. I’m a huge Quentin Tarantino fan so, anything he could make would be incredible. It would be a dream come true!

Are there any you would want to collab with at some point?

Trent Reznor would be the dream! Dolly Parton, of course. There’s also an artist out of Nashville which, I love what he’s doing which is more rock country. His name is Hardy, I would love to do something with him. Those are the goals!

What artists are you currently listening to?

Definitely Hardy, Bring Me The Horizon, Morgan Wallen, Lana Del Rey, and Ethel Cain.

Do you listen to music before you go on stage to help pump you up for the performance?

Now that you ask me, I’ve realized that I don’t! It’s always so crazy before you go on stage because so many things are happening. Though I probably should take more time to myself before a show. I kind of just do jumping jacks and try to get into the zone from there. But I do want to start trying that!

*“Stick to your core values and beliefs and your ideas. Because that’s what’s special. Don’t let anyone try to shift that!”*
*photo by Ben Staley*

On Spotify, your music is featured on a playlisted named “Fierce Females” which, first of all, Happy Women’s History Month, do you have any advice for other women trying to get into the music business?

I would say that what you offer is special, unique, and it’s needed. We’re in a very male-drive industry, which is changing now but, don’t ever feel like you have to compromise! Stick to your core values and beliefs and your ideas. Because that’s what’s special. Don’t let anyone try to shift that!

What is the most important message you want to tell fans of your music?

I really want to celebrate individuality everywhere. I want to instill the message that it’s okay to take the road less traveled, it’s okay to be unique or to find your voice in a different way. We should be celebrating that! In a world where there is so much cookie-cutter things, we need you, we need your voice and individuality. Lean into that and don’t be afraid!

Now that you’ve gone on tour and released your EP, hitting many important milestones, what do you hope to do or what are your goals for the next couple of years?

I want to get over to Europe and tour! That would be amazing. I’d like to release a full-length album, become more immersed in the Nashville scene, and I’d love to do somethings in film and TV like a theme song or acting.

Links to DEVORA’s Ep: https://open.spotify.com/album/7tRHjscy3iMcAZ2eZI9E4H?si=u9fgU9rFS8u9Ss1sTos-Eg

Thanks to Ben Staley Ben Staley (@staley)

Jim Louvau (@jimlouvau)

Mia Rose Mia Rose 🪲🇨🇴 (@mia_ro_se)

and Brittany Molta Brittany Molta (@fivebyfivefilm)

for the pics.

Interview by Nicole Brunette Nicole A. Brunette (@nicoleabrunette)