Devora – God is Dead

By starrymag | April 26, 2023

By: Lisa Stienberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I describe my sound as “outlaw pop” — a mix of all things goth+country+rock. Pop/country with a very dark twist.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Nine Inch Nails, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Taylor Swift, My Chemical Romance, Bring Me to the Horizon, Lana del Rey and Fields of Neopholim just to name a few…

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your song “Bonesaw.”

 

A) “Bonesaw” is about a night in a motel room going terribly wrong. The song starts off with dreamy daytime imagery but then quickly turns dark when you realize what’s happened in that motel room.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I think people connect to stories and just like a movie, a song can transport you to a time and place. Everyone loves getting absorbed in a good story and I think fans connect to the range of feelings and emotions on this song.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) The video (directed by the genius Felicity Jayne Heath, shot by the incredible Tammy Santos) was meant to evoke a feeling of uneasiness with projections shot onto me in various styles.  Inspired by Tarantino-esque cinema, the video really encapsulates that goth-western feel with projections of graveyards, deserts, taxidermy and more.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) I’m a big concept person so I have a ton of concepts and ideas for titles/lyrics in a long running list in my phone. Sometimes music inspires lyrics, other times lyrics inspire the music and everything in between!

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I came in with the vision and the sonic palette I really wanted to use for these EP’s and then producers helped me execute. It really was a collaborative process and I’m so grateful for Cass [Dillon] + Alex [Aldi], the producers for the last two EP’s for bringing this vision to life.

 

Q) Your EP God is Dead is out now. Are we able to assume from the title that there is a religious theme throughout it or are there others you explore?

 

A) Written during the pandemic, the song “god is dead” is about facing your demons and catastrophe head on, all while embracing it. Like, the world is on fire, let’s rise up! It’s a bit of a celebration song for a modern-day apocalypse. I wanted to highlight a sense of camaraderie in this song; for all of us who have made it out alive from wounding situations—to rise up and celebrate originality and nonconformance, and to pridefully commemorate that we’re all “gods rejects.” Normalizing “not fitting in” to common social norms is an important message that I want to convey. There’s power and truth in being non-complacent and standing up for what you believe in during these times, while staying true to yourself and not conforming to unauthentic societal standards.

 

Q) Which track on the EP was your favorite or maybe that challenged you the most creatively?

 

A) My favorite track to write was “Pornstar.” As a storyteller, this was a dream to create. My favorite type of songs are the ones where you are in the middle of the scene and all five senses are activated. This song definitely encapsulates that and felt very much like a “‘movie” to write, with real life experience thrown in there as well. I leave that up to the listener to decipher. [smiles]

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from exploring this new God is Dead as a whole?

 

A) I hope it fills a void for listeners who love darker storytelling mixed these elements of pop/country/rock. I hope they get immersed in the stories and fall even more in love with this lane that’s being carved. I also hope they feel a sense of empowerment and strength and can feel that true inner outlaw inside of them.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?Will you be headed out on tour shortly to promote God is Dead?

 

A) I just finished a small tour with BUSH at the end of February and am about to go out with them again at the end of April! One of the most significant places that I’ve ever played was the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Standing on a stage that my idols (Johnny Cash, Elvis, Dolly) had stood on years before was such a profound moment. It was such a special night.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) There’s a rock/country artist named HARDY who I’m obsessed with. He’s an incredible writer and it would be a dream to collaborate with him one day.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) Listening to Hardy’s new record The Mockingbird and the Crow which is so sick. I love that he’s taking country music and flipping it on its head in a heavier rock/ metal way…

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) It’s important to be able to talk to my fans/community one on one. It gives us artists a direct way to communicate with them, which is priceless. As an artist you have a platform that I believe should be used to advocate for others and to speak your truth. There is power in community, and I love the modern day outlaw scene we’re building here.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) Endlessly grateful for my fans for their support and for this community we’re building. It’s just the beginning really and I couldn’t be more grateful to be in this together. ♥️