We recently connected with Dev11n and have shared our conversation below.
Dev11n, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
There are a few projects that come to mind when I think of the most meaningful work that I’ve done, but my very first EP #The11thHour is the most meaningful to me. At that time in 2013, I was dealing with what seemed like every life change imaginable. My relationship, which I’d been in for 5 years was coming to a painful end, my parents were divorcing, and I was in my senior year of college and struggling to focus which was resulting in almost failing grades. For me, it was difficult because I’m so relationship and family-oriented at heart. To lose both at the same time felt like I was completely alone. I was also dealing with bullying and other childhood traumas at that time so it all quickly became too much. Unable to cope, I began smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol regularly. I almost lost myself. I had always written songs and poems, but it became extremely therapeutic to write down my feelings in lyrics. #The11thHour became the story of my life during that time. It captured my honest, raw emotions. Each song breaks down an aspect of what I was dealing with or working through and although it was painful to express, it was worth it because those songs are timeless. Since then, my life has blossomed and evolved into something much more beautiful. I no longer struggle with substance abuse and I’m continuing to find healthy ways to work through trauma. Looking back at how far I’ve come since that first project, I’m grateful that I’ve been able to turn what could have destroyed me into a season of rebirth, into who I’m truly destined to be.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is dev11n, pronounced like Devin. I’m a former Howard University Bison and graduate of SUNY Fredonia where I gained so much knowledge about the entertainment business. As a student, I always imagined I would work behind the scenes, and manage artists or events. However, by my senior year, the love of writing my own music inspired me to become a solo artist and release my first EP.
To date, I’ve released two EPs as well as several singles and collaborations. I’ve also been fortunate enough to tour both nationally and internationally and after doing so many shows, I quickly developed a passion for event curation. In 2017, I founded Queen City Live – a live art exhibition series featuring creative women and showcasing multiple art forms including Visual, Performance, and Film.
In 2018, I relocated from my hometown of Buffalo, NY to Atlanta, GA and founded my company Muziqly Devine Entertainment through which I continue to manage my music and events, and also offer one on one consulting with new and emerging entrepreneurs to assist them with transforming their creative gifts into successful businesses in the music and entertainment industry. Outside of making music, I also enjoy hosting creative workshops for young artists and writers.
Of all that I’ve done, I’m most excited for my new projects. This November 11th, I will be releasing a new EP and going back on tour. I’m also relaunching my podcast Black Cookie Radio. I’m excited for people to see how I’ve grown and evolved. I’m excited for them to see the maturity in my art and my passion in these new creative endeavors. This new season of my life gives me the same timeless inspiration that #The11thHour did. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of history will be made again.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I love to read. I enjoy reading books that inspire or educate me. Some of my favorites are listed below:
The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz
The Warrior of The Light – Paulo Cuelho
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
The Richest Man In Babylon – George Classon
The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Your Subconscious Mind – Joseph Murphy
The Autobiography of Malcolm X – Alex Haley & Malcolm X
All of these books have assisted me in some way to push through difficult times and continue to strive to reach my fullest potential.
This also ties into why I spell my name with the number eleven. In some interpretations of numerology, the number 11 symbolizes the potential to reach one’s fullest form. By incorporating 11 into my name in the place of the letter ‘i’, it reminds me to strive to reach my fullest potential in all that I am and in all that I do.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My mission is to make a difference. To create new spaces for artists that don’t fit into typical boxes and don’t want to. I strive to educate as many young creative people as possible to understand that they are already entrepreneurs the moment they create something from scratch. I hope to inspire artists to demand to be paid according to what they believe their time and artwork is worth. I strive to encourage artists to take risks and do what they want, not just what others tell them they should. I strive to raise the bar for artists in my hometown so that they know there’s more that we can be besides what we’ve seen. I am a person who lives by my own rules. I’m not afraid to go against the grain. I believe that’s where all artists can relate and I hope to keep the fire burning for all the free-thinking, creative change-makers in the world shifting the culture in whatever way most aligns with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dev11n.bandcamp.com/
- Instagram: @_dev11n
- Facebook: @dev11n
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinstanford
- Twitter: @_dev11n
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Hz7gzwJdmVS-n65NNvCmg
- Other: dev11n.com
Image Credits
Sirdified Alex D Rogers FD Images Filmtastic Films