In the two years since releasing her debut EP One Sided Expectations, Pennsylvania native Devon Beck turned 20, won the Central PA Music Award for Best New Band/Artist (2020) and was nominated for Album/EP of the Year, performed over 400 shows including the 2021 & 2022 York State Fair and the 2022 PA Farm Show, performed the National Anthem at several sporting events, and opened for Miranda Lambert, Maddie & Tae, Brett Young and Ernest, just to mention a few career highlights. Last month, the mature beyond her years singer/songwriter released her fourth single “Homewrecker,” kicking off the release at Nashville’s iconic Whiskey Jam.
We recently caught up with Devon to get to know more about the backstory behind her new single, songwriting and more.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
DB: My name is Devon Beck. I am a singer/songwriter originally from Pennsylvania. I made the move to Nashville, Tennessee after graduating high school to pursue a career in music.
CN: Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
DB: When I was younger I listened to a lot of R&B, including H.E.R. and Rihanna. I always loved the soulfulness of that genre and the lyrical approach. As I got older, I was drawn more towards country music and the storytelling lyrics. Since moving to Nashville, I find myself drawn to the up-and-coming artists who write the songs you genuinely wish you had written. Writers like Jackson Dean, Koe Wetzel, Zach Bryan and Bailey Zimmerman influence me the most.
CN: Jimmie Allen has crowned you an ‘Artist to Watch” – what does that recognition mean to you?
DB: Jimmie Allen named me an ‘artist to watch’ back in 2020. It was definitely one of the coolest moments I’ve had so far as a new artist. It gave me the validation I had needed to continue to grow and mature as an artist.
CN: Listening to your recordings, your lyrics have a very mature tone, an old soul, yet you turned 20 this past summer. Can you take us through your songwriting process?
DB: My songwriting process usually starts out with me hearing a quote, phrase or word I like and then building the song, lyrics and music around just that. When you get a good thing going, it just works itself out.
CN: Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?
DB: Yes! The first song I ever wrote was “Forgive Me”. I wrote it about a relationship I felt guilty about not giving a chance. I released it back in 2020 on my debut EP One Sided Expectations.
CN: Your new single “Homewrecker” was written solely by yourself. What was the inspiration behind this song?
DB: The inspiration behind this song was a real life “situationship” I’ve been in for six years. It’s for the people who always wondered “what if” about someone, and whether that be a relationship that didn’t work out, a relationship that you were too scared to chase or in my case, the timing never worked in your favor.
CN: Do you often pull inspiration from personal events in your life when writing?
DB: Absolutely. I believe good songwriting can only come from what you know or what you lived through.
CN: In 2020, you attended John and Martina McBride’s six-month program at The Blackbird Academy, an audio tech school. Can you share with us what that program was like? What have you learned and applied to your own sound?
DB: Yes! When I first moved to Nashville I had just graduated high school. A diploma was the only piece of paper I had. I wanted to become more well rounded as a musician, while also getting some kind of education and degree. It taught me what to ask for, what to do when the sound goes wrong, etc. It also made me realize that behind the scenes wasn’t for me. I really wanted to be up there on the stage as an entertainer.
CN: Last year, you competed in the Citadel Spotlight LIVE Battle of the Bands Contest and won a spot to perform at the 2021 Country Spirit USA festival that featured Miranda Lambert, Brett Young, Maddie & Tae, Jon Langston and Lily Rose, and this year you performed at the largest indoor agricultural show – an 8 day event that was attended by 500k people. What was performing at these two big events back to back like, especially coming out of 2020 where there was minimal live music? And while you have opened for country artists including Joe Nichols and Sam Grow, you have also shared the bill with Everclear – total 90s flashbacks!
DB: These events, especially after covid, were a great learning experience. I hadn’t really had the experience of singing in front of that many people before, so it was great to learn and become better and better after each of those events. It really is cool to go from playing in front of current country crowds to total 90s throwback crowds. Let me tell you… completely different vibes!! As an entertainer, you really just have to be good about reading the crowd and knowing your audience, to know what they want to hear!
CN: Where can fans catch you on the road this fall?
DB: Right now, I am busy playing acoustic gigs on Broadway in Nashville, TN. I also have a few bigger gigs lined up here in town as well. I post all of my upcoming shows on my website, www.DevonBeckOfficial.com.
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
DB: My dream collaboration would be with Koe Wetzel. I am obsessed with his style of music and eventually, would love to get more into rock/country.
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
DB: The first concert I ever attended was with my grandparents seeing Zac Brown Band! We still love to go see them when they play around the area!
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
DB: I would describe myself as hard working. I always love to work towards new opportunities and thrive off of the energy of playing gigs. I love to just be around people and entertain!
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you? Can fans expect new music soon?
DB: I have a bunch of songs written and ready to be recorded. I’m hoping to continue to release singles throughout the new year. Right now, I am mainly focusing on the gigs I am playing.
For more information on Devon Beck, visit her website www.DevonBeckOfficial.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.