Interviews

Published on April 30th, 2024 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

Pop Sensation devoNNickoles Discusses Single “Gold Star”

Maryland-based devoN Nickoles is an emerging talent whose musical journey is deeply intertwined with her personal experiences and artistic vision. Growing up in a family with deep roots in the vibrant horse show community, devoN inherited the name from the renowned event (The Devon Horse Show & Country Fair) that takes place every Spring in the Philadelphia suburb. From the outset, DevoN’s artistic endeavors have been marked by a fusion of inspiration and creative energies by artists such as Taylor Swift and the harmonies of Florence and the Machine.

Being a true “road warrior” and having honed her craft through years of performing every weekend up until 2020, devoN found herself at a crossroads, grappling with the stored emotions of pursuing her musical dreams amidst the challenges of the pandemic. It was during this challenging period of reflection that the concept of “Gold Star” emerged, sparked by a poignant Instagram poem and a profound existential contemplation inspired by a simple sticker.

“Gold Star” marks a significant milestone in devoN Nickoles’ sonic journey, representing her first foray into a project driven by personal expression rather than external expectations. Driven by her evocative lyrics and melodies, “Gold Star” takes audiences on a transcendent voyage of introspection and exploration, underscored by the symbolism of tarot cards signaling new beginnings and the courage to embrace uncertainty. Through meticulous attention to detail and a collaborative spirit, devoN and her team have crafted a music video that resonates deeply with audiences, inviting them to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and resilience. She is an artist who gives voice to the voiceless, and hope to the weary.

The otherworldly music video for “Gold Star” is a collaborative effort with a team of dedicated individuals, some even students in videography courses, that encapsulate devoN’s artistic evolution, from conception to realization. Set against the enchanting, bucolic backdrop of fields very near to her in the “Old Line State”, the music video captures the essence of devoN’s introspective journey, with multiple layers of symbolism and deeper meaning. Drawing inspiration from themes of self-discovery and the inherent duality of human nature, the visuals weave a narrative that transports viewers into a world both familiar and surreal, echoing the allure of Alice in Wonderland coalescing with your favorite scary movie.

devoN weighed in on the single and new video

Who are your biggest music influences?

While there are so many incredible artists that I find solace in, Taylor Swift and Florence and the Machine have absolutely been vital parts of my most recent music. Between their insane songwriting, harmonies and magical nature, I am forever awestruck and a huge fan of both artists.

What made you want to become a musician instead of joining your family in the horse show business?

There was just something in me that has always loved music. I was constantly singing around the house, to the horses, really anywhere. I loved Martina McBride and my dad brought me home her Greatest Hits album as a little kid and I played that CD so much. From that point on I watched all her music videos and even did my elementary school project on Martina as someone I wanted to be when I grew up. My first big concert was Taylor Swift on the Fearless Tour. I think both of these instances truly solidified for me that music is what I wanted to do. I have such a vivid image of Taylor Swift in her bright blue sequin dress dancing around the stage and I remember thinking “I want to do that”.

Which aspect of your career do you feel was the most affected by entering the music scene during the pandemic?

Personally, having the world shut down to the point of no LIVE shows really affected me. I had been performing practically every weekend in the years leading up to 2020. So, to have the immediate door close, for at the time, any foreseeable future was startling.

With this, I did take a step back and take that slow down period to dive more into songwriting and online workshops. I think ultimately this helped me in honing my songwriting craft more as opposed to performance. It did give me the time and grace to focus on something that had kind of taken a back seat during the years previous and ultimately give me the songs I am releasing now!

What can you tell us about your latest release “Gold Star”? What was the inspiration behind it?

“Gold Star” really means a lot to me and is one of my most personal releases. It was written after a late-night doom scroll on social media. I happened upon a poem that had referenced a gold star, in the form of praise. I love stars so that immediately stood out to me but it really got me thinking. This was during the beginning of the pandemic so I was definitely going through the thought of why am I doing what I do and thus “Gold Star” came to life.

If listeners could only leave listening to “Gold Star” with a single message, what would you want that message to be?

Mainly, my hope is for the listener to believe in themselves and do the things that make them happy. Not live for others validation or praise but to pursue the things that bring them joy. It really doesn’t mean a thing if one person finds it “uncool” because they aren’t you!

How does your approach to creating music videos differ as a creative when compared to writing music?

To some extent they kind of go hand in hand for me. A lot of my songs that I’ve written and been a part of immediately play in my head as I am writing them. I take poems or words that stand out and form them into songs, just as much as I take pictures from Pinterest or things I see out in the world to form my storyboards. Ultimately anything throughout my day can spark an idea. The one difference for me, I would say, is that I am a bit more organized with the music video process as opposed to songwriting because more people are involved, unlike writing a song at 2 am in my room.

What advice would you offer to newer artists struggling to break through as you did?

As cliche as it sounds, I will always say to never give up. I give myself that pep talk all the time! You are your first fan and if you don’t believe in yourself or your work then why should anyone else? There is so much I want to do and be a part of but if I don’t even try then the opportunity will never even exist. Take the chance, and follow your dreams because we are all just on a big floating rock anyway!

What can fans look forward to next?

I have some more behind-the-scenes from the “Gold Star” music video to share and of course more music to come! It is the coolest thing to be able to take this music that means so much to me and hear how fans connect to it. As always, I cannot thank them enough for going on this musical journey with me!

Follow devoN Nickoles

Website: devonnickoles.com

YouTube: @devonnickoles

Facebook: DEVONNICKOLES

Twitter: @devoNNickoles

Instagram: @devoNstar1212

Featured Image: devoNNickoles

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.

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