By: Denise Smith
oung Hollywood’s Artist to Watch, Devin
K wants to ask you a simple question,
“Do I, as an artist make you want to
move?” The short answer is a resounding, YES.
Most spent some time getting to know this blue
eyed, fresh new talent and we are more than
confident you will also want to move. You can find
his smooth and sexy new single and video “Move”
on his website at, officialdevink.com, Itunes and
Google Play.
We talked to Devin about his early years in
Long Beach California (LBC). He is infatuated
with the vibe, passion, inspiration, and artistry
that growing up in the LBC provides. It is the
perfect blend of competitive, artistic, real culture
and talents. The upscale neighborhoods are two
blocks from the ghetto, which brings everybody
together as a community in a “family” sort of way,
regardless of your economic status. Status is
irrelevant when you are all five minutes from the
beach and one block away from an open mic or
Mexican food.
His parents have always been beyond
encouraging with everything he does in life. They
have helped to instill a work ethic that he could not
imagine finding without them.
Devin K plays by ear the majority of the time.
“Not to say that reading music is not important but I
just prefer to vibe and write.” His father, who taught
him to play guitar, encouraged Devin to write and
play off a feeling rather than teach him to write and
play in a more technical fashion.
He grew up listening to Michael Jackson,
Stevie Wonder and the Beatles, finding them truly
innovative in their art. “They inspire me to stray
from the norm and create music that is fresh, new
and me.”
While in high school he played in the garage
bands, Sometime Tomorrow and Heart in Hand.
Devin laughs at the mention of his old school
musical buddies. They were able to turn their
hobby of jamming in the garage into a pretty big
show. “We were just some hood rats in Long Beach
and ended up selling out almost every show, which
was pretty crazy.”
We discussed the dynamics between playing
in a band where a collaborative effort is made to
create a unique sound versus that of a solo artist.
Stylistically, he prefers to stay in his own lane if
you will. Being in a band just doesn’t make sense
to the soul singer. “Forcing a group of musicians
to play and write my style and my style only would
most likely not translate as being genuine.”
Immediately following high school, Devin K left
home to play for The Red Bulls, a national soccer
team. He played stopper, which is essentially an
attacking defender. “Signing to a professional
soccer team at such a young age forced me to grow
up fast.” Not to say that he feels mature, rather he is
a work in progress. This experience taught him the
necessity of confidence, a hard work ethic, and how
to carry himself with professionalism.
Leaving the game was an inevitability; “Soccer
is something that I am good at, but music is who
I am.” Always bringing a guitar or ukulele on the
road, he found himself putting 50% into soccer and
50% into music. Recognizing the need to make a
choice, he decided to put 100% of his efforts into >>>
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