Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to DeVahni. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

DeVahni, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Graveyard Jams is a free concert series I established after the pandemic, to give upcoming artists a chance to share their music live in a warm and welcoming environment. The concert series is a space for community and creativity outside of the academic environment. I am currently a senior at a conservatory of music and most, if not all, the music we make is created with the intention of fitting into a grading rubric. I wanted to break out of these limitations and do other musical things that fed my soul. I didn’t have a space for it, so I created one. Initially, it started with just my friends from school, but it has now expanded to include indie artists in the surrounding cities, pop ups of small business owners, collective improv groups, quintets, small choirs, and stand up personas. Numerous friends and unfamiliar faces approach me after the show expressing their gratitude for the musical ambiance created. For the performers, Graveyard jams is an outlet to share who they really are through musical storytelling and I deeply appreciate their vulnerability on stage. Every year the show becomes more detail oriented and expands to reach different kinds of creativity.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My mission is to inspire and uplift through musical storytelling. I am a singer-songwriter and trombonist that is currently studying Jazz and Theatre at the college level. Writing my own music is my therapy. Like most people, when I am feeling any kind of emotion I create a song. Observing others connect with the music that I have poured my heart and soul into is truly an out of body experience. Performing live is my favorite thing to do in the entire world. Witnessing people’s immediate reactions to my music as it unfolds creates a personal connection of souls that only music can give. Collaborating with individuals who inspire me gives my life purpose. It’s in our human nature to thrive within a team, and the remarkable synergy that exists among musicians transcends beyond our skies. Although I love performing and listening to all genres of music, my favorite genre is jazz. I believe jazz is the truest form of self expression and musical storytelling. You can express your inner emotions through lyrics and through improvisation, which is on-the-spot composition. The jazz community is fIlled with brilliant minds that give their whole heart and soul into the art form and want to watch it grow. There is no other feeling in this world like the end of a jazz concert. For the entirety of the show, I’ve been crying, laughing, screaming, and yelling an occasional “HUH” when I heard a cool lick. Being in a community that only wants to support and encourage each other is truly wonderful. I also want to give a massive shout-out to my parents. They have not only provided me with the space to be who I want to be, but have also offered immense support for my professional growth. I love you.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is when someone approaches me after a show and shares that they’ve been inspired, feel motivated, and had fun. If I’ve a positive impact on the audience, I have successfully done my job.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Give people places to perform live music. Wondering how to boost your small business? Host an open mic, give musicians places to showcase their music live. Promote your musical friends. Their music and concert posters. Promoting your friends and small artists on your social media is an effective and easy way to help them grow. Come to their shows! Watch these musicians live! The best part is that most of these performances are free or at a very affordable price.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/devahni
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devahni_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@devahni4206

Image Credits
Warren Phan