Devon Cole
Devon Cole is a talented artist, there’s no doubt about that. Although I am only discovering her music, it is clear to me that singing and songwriting are two things she’s great at. Devon Cole is a complete artist who has something to say. Her newest single “Call U After Rehab” offers an important message. “’Call U After Rehab’ is my most vulnerable release yet. “It's a love song about pausing a relationship in order to take care of myself. I was putting off my issues for a while and finding any way to justify my bad habits. Deciding to say goodbye to my closest comforts, to give myself the space and time to heal, felt like ripping off a bandaid that had been there for ages. And this release kind of feels the same, in some ways. I hope people can relate by interpreting the rehab idea however they want to,” she explains.
After listening to her entire discography, ”Call U After Rehab” is definitely her best song yet (in my opinion).
Congrats Devon Cole for releasing this vulnerable and brilliant song.
”Call U After Rehab” is now available worldwide.
Photo credit: Billy Black
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hi! I’m Devon Cole. My dad got me a 10 square feet of land in Scotland as a gag gift one year so that I could legally call myself a Lady, so technically my full name is Lady Devon Mackenzie Cole! I’m a Toronto-born, Calgary-raised, quirky primadonna with an appetite for chaos. I’m an artist because I love connecting with people as much as I love people the centre of attention.
What did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Shania Twain, and Avril Lavigne. Shania Twain had the most influence on me. I knew every word to every song on Up! by the time I was 7.
When did you know you had to be an artist and release your original music?
My fourth year of university, around the time when I started gigging at local bars. I had very much come to terms with the fact that I was never gonna be a pop star until that year. At my gigs, people would come up to me and ask if any of my songs were out on Spotify or whatnot. That was the catalyst for me taking myself seriously. I knew that I would be kicking myself on my death bed if I never gave it a shot.
Could you list a few records that influenced the music you are making today?
I have a playlist on Spotify called “Gold Standards” where I keep my all-time favourite songs, and I use them for inspiration in terms of the way they make me feel as a listener. “Passive Aggressive” by Charlotte Cardin makes me feel like the baddest bitch alive. “High School” by Chloe Lilac makes me want to burn my hometown to the ground. “More” by Jess Best makes me want to dance around in an oversized t-shirt and no pants. I try to recreate those feelings in my own music.
Who was the first person to ever believe in your music?
My manager, Manny. He was the first person to make me feel like I was a good writer. He is still my biggest supporter.
"Call U After Rehab" is your latest single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
I was refusing to go to therapy for a long time because I knew it was gonna be work, and I didn’t feel like putting in the work. It was much easier for me to deflect and distract myself. I reached a point where I knew I needed to get some help, and that decision kind of felt like ripping off a bandaid. This song is a reflection of that decision.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? Who helped you create it?
I wrote this song by myself in my dinky Toronto apartment, and I actually found the main harp-sounding loop for it online. But my extremely talented friend Brandon Hill produced it for me remotely from the UK. He is a secret weapon.
What did you feel when recording this song?
Anxiety. I had a complete meltdown when I first tried recording final vocals. I was sobbing so much that I had to come back to the studio another day. I think I was anxious about recording vocals in general (because that is stressful for me), but I was also anxious about recording vocals for such a vulnerable song. I really wanted to get it perfect, but there is no “perfect,” especially in music. I have to constantly remind myself of that.
What's your favorite lyric on "Call U After Rehab"?
“To get some peace from my own mind.” It’s a play on words for “peace of mind.” I love a double entendre moment.
What message do you want to deliver through this song?
That it's okay to step away from certain relationships to protect your energy.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
For the artwork, I wanted to be buried in a couch, to reference the “I wanna live in your apartment” line in the second verse, but also to convey the feeling of being trapped. Comfortably trapped. Which is exactly the feeling I needed to free myself from.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
Content is the hardest part, for me personally. Because I am a complete perfectionist and I will do one dinky piece of content 30 times over and then decide that the first take was the best. But the best part is performing live and meeting fans.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think it’s the best time to be an artist because of how quickly you can find an audience online (from around the world!). Throwing stuff at the wall on TikTok can literally land you a record deal. The internet has very much leveled the playing field for artists, and that’s super empowering. If I could change one thing, it would be for songwriters to get paid more. A lot more.
What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
Getting nominated for a Juno Award!
What's the best advice you've ever received?
You can choose how you feel.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Be careful how you speak to yourself, because you are always listening. And be kind to everyone, because you never know what someone’s going through.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Oh gosh, that’s a big question! More empathy… More love… More camaraderie as human people… More compassion for one another.
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