Singer-Songwriter Devon Gabriella Discusses Hannah Montana, Coffee Orders, and Her Latest Single “get clean”
Devon Gabriella is both vulnerable and resonating in her latest single “get clean.” Released on February 8th, the song revolves around the separation of her parents, revealing how sometimes two people are just not romantically compatible. While this can be an arguably difficult topic to discuss usually, Devon fosters an authentically comforting role as a musician by creating a vessel for challenging emotions to be brought to the surface.
Representing the next generation of singer-songwriters, Devon’s music hones in on acoustic softness and pop sentiments, creating a lighthearted, intimate experience with each listen. Devon states that “if I can help just one person go through something, that is all I can ask for.”
Having her single “a little hope never hurt” grace over one million streams last year and “get clean” landing on Spotify’s “Next Gen Singer-Songwriters” playlist this year, Devon anticipates exciting horizons. Devon plans to release more music soon with her new single, “remind me” coming out on April 5th. Balancing music with being a student at the moment, Devon looks forward to releasing a full body of work this year along with performing live more.
In a conversation with Unpublished Magazine, Devon discussed her latest single “get clean,” balancing music with school, growing up on Hannah Montana, and more.
[UNPUBLISHED]: So tell us about yourself and how you got into music?
[DEVON]: I was born into a pretty musical family on my dad's side and he was always teaching us little jingles. We'd be singing on the piano in diapers, that was kind of me and my sister's upbringing, very music oriented. I can't remember a time where I didn't want to do music. I was a huge Hannah Montana girl. Growing up in that era, the Disney era, I wanted to be an actress and singer, exactly like Miley Cyrus. So, every single day, I'd just be singing around the house. Going into elementary school, my sister and my friend and I started a little girl band and we'd do little local talent shows. Then, one of the girls went off in a more musical theater route. My sister took the dance route and she's incredible and she's pursuing it professionally now. I took the more singer-songwriter, social media route. So, ever since then and with the rise of social media, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, I started posting myself online. That's kind of how I got where I am with the power of social media and an intense love for music and songwriting.
[UNPUBLISHED]: How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?
[DEVON]: I think where I find myself in the world of sound is acoustic. All of my songs have that acoustic, kind of raw feel and guitar is the first instrument I ever taught myself. As cliche as it sounds, just picking up my guitar helps me through just about anything. So, I want to keep that sense and that feeling through my music to see if other people are feeling a similar way. I feel like that's my best route of communicating, through lyrics with the guitar. So, I always try to keep that. But, also melody wise and lyric wise, I’m exploring the pop world a little bit. So, I think I'd sum it up by saying acoustic pop. I'm still exploring new sounds. I'm not closed off to anything and that's the beautiful thing about music. You're not confined to one thing and there's an infinite amount of directions you can take your artist project. Right now, I really do love the world of acoustic pop and that singer-songwriter energy.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Are there any genres that you haven’t explored yet that you would like to pursue one day?
[DEVON]: I love folk music. Noah Cyrus dives into the world of folk country and her stuff is some of my favorite ever. Also, Lizzy McAlpine in her new album takes some rock influences in her bridges or whatnot. And that just sounds so cool and how it translates live is just epic. So, I'd say either those two genres would be super interesting to explore.
[UNPUBLISHED]: You released your latest single “get clean” this past February. Congratulations – how have people reacted to it?
[DEVON]: It's been amazing. Obviously, all of my songs have come from a place of truth. But, this one I was a little bit nervous releasing because it was about my parents and not really about me. Every single lyric in there is just how I perceived my parents' separation. My parents are my best friends and they just weren't meant to be together romantically. But, having that out into the world was really cathartic in a way. Just being able to share that story and have people react to it the way they did, whether they related to it or understood the sentiment. And then seeing myself on the cover of Spotify’s Next Gen Singer-Songwriters playlist with that song was probably one of the happiest moments of my life. What that song meant to me, what I put into it, and seeing that being rewarded in a physical way was absolutely unreal. So, the support has been incredible and it definitely got me excited for releasing more.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What was the moment like when you found out you were on Spotify’s Next-Gen Singer-Songwriter’s playlist?
[DEVON]: My song released at 9pm on a Wednesday and then that following Thursday was when I could see if they got on any editorials. Next Gen Singer-Songwriters is a playlist I listen to every single day because it's kind of my genre with the acoustic and those next generation songwriters on the scene. So I'm always playing it and I clicked the playlist and I saw it switch from the cover to me and I immediately started crying. I was with so many people. I was at my friend's house and because I'm still in school, we were gonna do something all together. But, then I had to redo my whole entire face of makeup. And having my friends who supported me through it, it gives me chills just having them see that too. They were crying, it was just a sweet moment that I'll definitely never forget. So yeah, it was amazing.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Your lyrics are very poetic and beautifully written. Do you have a favorite line from the song?
[DEVON]: The second verse starts with "cold war conversations / overcompensations." I wrote it with Emily Haber and Dano Omelio. I was explaining the whole story because the whole process of my parents went on for two, three years. My parents are amazing and they would never ever, ever fight in front of us. They'd never argue, I'd see no conflict. But, they'd send messages to each other via text or whatnot. And “cold war conversations” actually emulates exactly what was going on. And in the first verse, "We've got obligations." I feel like a lot of people feel that they have to stay in a certain relationship or they feel obligated to do something for the sake of someone else when it's really detrimental to them. So, I think the first lines of each verse are really important and the hook kind of sums it all up. But yeah, those lines stuck out to me.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Is there anything else you’d like to share behind the inspiration for “get clean?”
[DEVON]: I mean, my parents are like best friends now and it was literally just a situation where they were not compatible romantically. However, I have a twin. So, we were a hefty family and family means everything to all of us. So, I think there is a lot of give and take from everyone. On everyone's part – my sister, my mom, and my dad. And I remember I woke up one morning and I heard the melody and the hook lyrics in my head and then I had a session that day. I just met Emily and Dano and I wasn't really sure what the vibes were gonna be. But, they immediately made me feel so comfortable and I started opening up. But yeah, I could not have more love for my parents and ultimately, I'm so happy that our family worked out the way it did with the separation. We're all so happy with the way it's working now. Like, we could not be closer. I think if that went the other way and they would have stayed together traditionally, we wouldn't have been able to be as content as we are today. But yeah, it was definitely interesting because I sent the song to my mom the day after I got the demo back and I didn't tell her anything. She makes me send every single song I do to her, which I love. But, she called me and she couldn't even talk, she was crying so hard. She's like, "this is about me and your dad," just immediately. And that was just crazy how I articulated it in a way where obviously it wasn't super straightforward. But, the fact that she knew what exactly I was talking about and it moved her, the person directly involved, no word can describe that feeling. Or her reaction and the reaction combined with other people. So, that just made my heart burst. And I'm excited that it's getting perceived in a similar way from listeners.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Last year you said one of your goals was to reach one million streams on a song, which did happen. What are some of your goals for this year?
[DEVON]: I really want to perform live more. I've gotten a little taste of it a few times. I have another show coming up on April 2nd for Planned Parenthood. I'm so excited to perform for that. But, I have a dream to open for someone, even if it's just a short tour run. This is so bizarre and I've had this since I was a little girl, but I'm obsessed with like sleeping in a car or like sleeping on a bus for some weird reason. I've always wanted to go in an RV, I think it's the coziest thing ever. So, to have that mixed with performing and doing what I love most would be so fun. I definitely want to release a project and just continue to keep on connecting with people who resonate with me. I wanted to do some more community activities. I made some letters and friendship bracelets that I sent out this year, which is definitely a goal of mine. And yeah, just to keep on writing music that is true and honest, but can also directly relate to someone else. And if I can help just one person go through something, that is all I can ask for. After I graduate in June, I'm doing music full time, moving to LA, which has been a goal of mine forever. So, I'm just excited to keep on exploring the world and meeting new people and trying to make this whole thing work.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Was it difficult to balance school with music?
[DEVON]: Right now it is. I'm in finals week right now and in the middle of releasing new songs. Right now I'm not signed, no managers. I'm talking to some really great people but it's kind of just me, myself and I. So, I'm getting emails about essays and finals and then sessions and zoom links. It's really, really overwhelming but I love it. Yeah, balancing school and music is hard because all I want to do is music. Like I don't want to sit down and write an essay. But, I have a ten page one due at the end of this week. So right after this, I need to finish that. But, I was very school oriented, and I still am. However senioritis is hitting me really hard and I am kind of just trudging along. But I'm so close to graduating, I wanted to stick it out before I moved on to the next chapter.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What do you study at school?
[DEVON]: I'm studying communications. It's interesting. Communications is very easy to incorporate anything into material. So, I'm doing my senior project on artist's brand and image. I've done a bunch of essays on music. That's kind of what keeps me sane in school, incorporating music. But a lot of my artist friends studied at Berklee or USC. A bunch of my friends that I'm with now are currently studying music industry and music business. But, I think I've always wanted to keep school and music separate. Now people at school are starting to find out about stuff. I'm not super like, "listen to my music." I'm just like, "if people find it, fine." But, it's funny now that some things have been happening and people come up to me and say some really sweet things. I'm just so grateful for having two communities like my school friends and my circle of musicians and just amazing people over in LA. So, I’m kind of living the best of both worlds like Hannah Montana.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What are some artists that you’ve listened to while growing up?
And what are some artists that you listen to now?
[DEVON]: I was a huge One Direction girl. Harry Styles was and still is number one. Seeing him evolve into the artist he is with his new work and Harry's House and everything is so cool and inspiring. So, a lot of One Direction. My mom and my dad played a lot of Aretha Franklin. There are a lot of videos of me and my sister dancing to her songs. It was just very Disney and musical oriented. Like Teen Beach Movie, all of that stuff, I was just first on that. I know all of the words still. Now, obviously my music taste has changed a little bit. I listen to a lot of Noah Cyrus, Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, Maisie Peters, Taylor. I listen to Alex Page a lot. Annika Bennett, her writing is crazy and her songs are amazing. Avery Lynch. And it's so cool meeting people or having my friends release incredible music because I just feel like a proud friend when I see all these things released and it's just amazing. Lennon Stella, Sabrina Carpenter, Alexander 23. This is kind of this cool circle of singer songwriters, like Gen Z. And I make music that I like to listen to. So, all of those people serve as huge inspirations to me.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Outside of music, what have you been up to?
[DEVON]: I like journaling. I love hanging out with my friends. If I could have my ideal day it'd just be every single morning, going to Starbucks, going to get coffee somewhere. Little coffee dates, working in a little coffee shop is so, so fun to me. Making those friendship bracelets, I realized how much I love little arts and crafts. I think they're so fun. I'm a very homey person, but a nice hike can never hurt. I'd say it kind of reinforces how much I actually just love to do music even as a hobby. The only thing I can think of is playing guitar because that's where I feel most "me." Obviously hanging out with my friends, taking little adventures. I love going to the beach. Just drinking some hot cocoa by a fireplace. Just little cozy things that make me happy with the people I love. Number one is hanging out with dogs actually. I don't even know how I forgot that. Dogs, coffee, music, done. Sold.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Follow up question to that – what’s your coffee order?
[DEVON]: Iced vanilla latte with oat milk. Always. But, it's weird. That's my order everywhere else but Starbucks. My Starbucks order, I have two and one of them is a crime. The first one is an iced vanilla latte with almond milk and a splash of sweet cream on top. That one's fine. The other one is an iced coffee with oat milk, two pumps of classic, two pumps of mocha and sweet cream on top. And that one, I feel terrible for the baristas who have to listen to that. Like I am that customer.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What does the future look like for you?
[DEVON]: I'm releasing a song in three weeks. I haven't said anything about it, but here we go. It's coming out early April, like April 5th, I believe. It's one of my favorite songs I've ever done, it's called "remind me." And then I really want to do some sort of project, like a five, six song, little EP on my birthday in May. I've been telling everyone that, I'm trying to manifest it. Just keeping that acoustic sound and obviously having "get clean" be a part of it. Just a consecutive body of work. And then I have that show coming up in April, which I'm super excited about. And I'm trying my best to always perform live more, just making music everyday, writing. But, I guess the solid things are song releases, a possible project and doing some more live shows.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Anything else you’d like to add for readers or listeners to know?
[DEVON]: Thank you to anyone who's listened to even a second of my songs. It means the absolute world to me. And I think for the longest time, I was so scared to put myself out there, especially in high school. Even a little bit in college, I was just embarrassed and so worried about what people would think of me. But, what I've learned is one, people do not care as much as you think they do. And two, if I let someone's opinion stop me from doing something I want to do, like if I was on my deathbed and I was looking back on my life knowing that stopped me, I could never forgive myself. So, taking that risk and doing it has been the most rewarding thing ever. So, I encourage anyone who's thinking of doing something that you might be a little scared of, to just go for it. And there can only be positive outcomes.
