We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deva Yoder. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deva below.

Hi Deva, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Doing music full time has been a long time coming! Throughout the week, I perform at Old Folk’s homes and write custom songs for birthdays and anniversaries through a website called Songfinch. During the pandemic, I got laid off twice. Once from the bar my brother owned that was forced to close its doors, and the other was a cannabis job. So I got a quick job somewhere I knew wouldn’t lay me off: a Whole Foods. I did the amazon e-commerce orders there for almost two years. While we were going through lockdown, I got pretty low like a lot of people, but had time to work on the vision for the new album. Then I joined the the booking agency and got busier with the custom song thing and didn’t have time to work even part time any more. After everyone was vaccinated, the band got back into the studio and finished this upcoming album. Playing with the band is such a fun luxury, but we don’t do it enough to make a living at it.

Deva, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up exposed to a lot of musicians coming through my house. I remember how they always smelled like a bar. One of them played with Neil Young and wrote for Fleetwood Mac, and his pregnant wife would play the drums. I thought SHE was the coolest. I always wrote poems from a young age. When I was about 8, my mom submitted a poem to a contest without my knowledge and it was published in a book. That gave me some confidence. I went to a lot of poetry readings that were aired on the local access channel and sometimes I would get up my nerve and read one too. My mom had a guitar she didn’t play, so I just took it and a few Beatles books and started figuring things out. If I had questions I would ask my Dad and he would help me. There were a few all ages clubs in my small town and punk bands would come through like Brainiac and Tilt. I really idolized Cinder Block from Tilt with her smart lyrics and shaved head and the way she sang with such strength. I also loved Suzanne Vega, she was so subdued and unique and honest. And then there was the absolute force of PJ Harvey. When I moved to Denver I started going to open mics by myself, which was terrifying, but people were so kind and supportive. My songs then were very searching. I used to wish I was older so I could sing from a place of experience and not be so naive. Now I have two teenagers and I am singing from a very different place with a lot of experience! The acoustic guitar and the story-telling makes the music “Americana,” but this new album has some psych-rock and some alt-country as well. It’s hard to pin down a genre, so it’s “indie or rock or folk rock or just rock and roll.” My style is very throwback, I’ve always listened to 60’s bands like The Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Jefferson Airplane, and the music I play for the old folks during the week is even older; stuff like Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and Gene Autry. I don’t mind it at all, any excuse to get out and play. I try to play with my band about once a month, and those boys just want to rock out.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Basically, I feel compelled to do this. I worked in the bar and in the grocery store and all the while I would be paying more attention to the music playing on the speaker than my job. If I were to die and not make music, I would go to my grave filled with regret. How can I live my life knowing I have a passion for something and not do it? I follow the urges and the prompts inside of me and say yes to as many things as I can and I’m just seeing what doors open. No mission per se, just an energy force moving me forward. I do have goals I work toward though.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert changed my whole perspective on creativity. She quotes Tom Waits extensively and how he shaped her thinking . The takeaway from the book is that ideas kind of hover around you and “land” on you, kind like clouds. So many times I have heard a new song while waking up or going to sleep and I know it wants to be written. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron really helped with the discipline of working on and being open to creativity. Lately, I find inspiration for writing in Kahlil Gibran, Rilke, and the Upanishads. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle has been so life-giving to me and has completely altered my intentions as an artist. As far as how to do logistical stuff, Tony Van Veen of Discmakers does a weekly video and is full of helpful pointers for DIYers like me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://devayoder.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deva_yoder/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devayodermusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@devayodermusic7845
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0tWu3UKNTXvHDunKEE1oDd?utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree

Image Credits
photos by Nicki Germaine, Kari Cummings, Amy K Wright, Seth Adam