Hailing from a sleepy town in the South-West of England, indie-pop songwriter Devon brings his dreamy tracks to The Bodega for a warming winter’s set…
Devon chose none other than Nottingham’s own Ricky Jamaraz to lull his crowd into sweet, hazy submission. Ricky stood on a stage strewn with evergreen ivy, transforming The Bodega into a thing of folklore. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of listening to the singer’s self-proclaimed “sappy bedroom music”; it’s truly refreshing to see such a young artist who is so visibly comfortable within his own sound.
When I was fifteen, I was still copying my desk mate’s science homework, meanwhile Ricky is penning tracks such as Castle and Microwave. With glitter warpaint upon his face, and enough energy to fill the room twice over, Ricky performed his best hits with passion and grace. Though he has already made quite a name for himself with viral tune Microwave, there’s no telling where this up-and-comer will take his great supplies of potential next.
Not before long, 8:45pm hit and it was time for headliner Devon to take the stage. Flanked by musicians Josh and Adam Baynham – a drummer/guitarist duo bonded by both blood and music. Devon gravitates naturally towards his keyboard, producing pop-infused chords and silky-smooth vocals. He begins with tracks such as Life Advice and BELONG 2 U, gently peppering his sound with catchy, feel-good hooks. One thing becomes instantly clear: if Devon is going to do anything, he is going to put together a tune which is soft, sweet, and easy to digest. Not to mention, he possesses a set of pop-infused-pipes that you’d expect to hear blaring out of your car radio.
During his performance of TRUST ISSUES, Devon pulls out his tambourine, staying true to his DIY roots. The singer remains open and candid about the impact that a small-town upbringing has had upon him, and how a sense of isolation allows a musician to find inspiration from within. I’m a sucker for an underdog, so it fills me with joy to see self-made musicians bring their passion projects to life in front of an audience. That being said, drummer Josh really did steal the show for this track, sending shockwaves through the venue with a big, booming drumbeat.
GIRLFRIEND SONG brought more of an ambitious and cinematic quality, aided by those quintessential indie guitar riffs – probably why it was such a personal highlight. Devon took a brief pause to express his love for our Notts, proving that he got stuck in to one of our weirdly wonderful tourist attractions: “I went to your haunted museum yesterday, I held a human skull”. Allowing that haunting image to linger in the air, the singer transitioned swiftly into Warning Signs, flexing his vocal muscles to make way for his satisfying high register.
The singer prefaced his latest release Smile with an apt commentary on smaller gigs: “these smaller gigs are funny because I can see the emotions in your faces as they rise and fall – when I play a song you know and when I play a song you don’t give a sh*t about”. Nonetheless, the crowd happily obliged to sway along to the heartfelt track, released just a few weeks prior.
Devon brought some much-needed warmth to an otherwise mundane and frosty Tuesday night. With his easy-to-listen-to bedroom-indie sound, and his humble hometown charm, this DIY artist should not be underestimated.
Devon performed at The Bodega on 28 November 2023
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