We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Devon Cahill a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Devon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents really helped me get my start on the stage. My mother is an actress, and my dad was in a new wave band back in the day. My mom got me started doing professional musical theatre when I was six years old, first playing the role of Gretl Von Trapp at the Goldenrod Showboat, and the following year playing Marta Von Trapp at the MUNY.

I loved being on stage from the start. When I was little, my mom would take me with her to rehearsals and everyone would joke, “if anyone forgets their lines, Devon could do it!” I loved being in front of an audience and would often try to get up on the stage at my moms rehearsals. So she started taking me to auditions, and I wound up doing musical theatre my whole childhood. The stage is where I felt like I was at home.

I was fortunate to have a variety of music played for me by my parents. With my mom, I listened to musical theatre soundtracks, Blondie, Lauryn Hill, The Cardigans, Rufus Wainwright, etc. My dad was more into punk and new wave, and helped raise me on a steady diet of The Velvet Underground, Brian Eno, The Talking Heads, and so much more. Listening to a variety of music during my formative young years really helped shape me into the musician I am today.

When I was in my mid twenties my mom gave me a watermelon ukulele, and I subsequently picked up guitar as well and began writing my own music. Both of my parents are extremely supportive of me being a musician, and have instilled a love of music into me from such a young age. I am incredibly grateful for my family, and for the musical influences I was so lucky to have since childhood. Working as an actress when I was an adolescent helped shape me into someone who cannot help but pour their whole heart out on stage. I’ll forever be indebted to my mom and dad for helping me strive to always be learning and growing, and to follow my bliss.

Devon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Practically born singing, I made my professional debut at age 6 as a musical theatre actress. In 2012 I shifted gears and formed the original indie folk band Letter to Memphis, which quickly became a successful endeavor with the band playing at venues and major cultural events all over town. We were fortunate to win “Best Folk Band” from the Riverfront Times two years in a row.

In 2013, I was handpicked by two-time Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz to perform with him at a sold-out show at the Sheldon Concert Hall in collaboration with The Angel Band Project, and we have continued collaboration to this day. Most recently I sang with him and helped lead the band at the annual Stages Gala in November of 2022. Norbert is a vocal force to be reckoned with, and an extremely kind and genuine person.

In 2016 I was gifted my first guitar, a beautiful Alvarez. I ventured out as an original solo artist in 2017, and debuted my first solo EP, entitled “When I Wake” in October 2018.  My rootsy style is a hybrid of Americana, indie, and folk music.  When not performing solo, I lead a band with David Newmann on drums/percussion and Simon Chervitz (Illphonics) on bass. We released a single before the pandemic and have another one coming soon. A full length album of my originals is currently in the works.

I’m proud of the other collaborations I’ve been a part of as well, singing and playing with local greats such as The Defeated County, Kid Scientist, Emily Wallace, Justin Johnson, and many more. I’ve also had the opportunity to open for some amazing touring artists in my career, including Amythyst Kiah, Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards), and The Local Honeys.

Some other highlights of my music career have been singing the National Anthem for over 60,000 people at Enterprise Center in downtown STL, winning “Best Folk Band” from the Riverfront Times two years in a row, and playing at the gorgeously perfect venue The Sheldon Concert Hall many times. I love singing and playing music for people, it gives me life. And I sincerely hope people can connect with my tunes.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When I was a kid doing musical theatre, I was constantly told that I needed to “sing straight” and “not bend notes”. My voice was naturally bluesy and that’s not what they wanted. I was trained to sing a certain way that wasn’t really ultimately me. When I emerged as a musician playing my own original songs, I had to work to find my true voice again. I listened to a ton of Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, Brandi Carlile…and realized that my real voice has a certain twang to it. I basically had to unlearn a certain way of singing so that I could really express myself the way that’s most natural to me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is sharing something I made with people and finding a connection. I have a single I’m about to release that’s about my struggle with chronic illness, and when I’ve played the song live I’ve had multiple people come up to me and tell me they related to my experience and that the song gave them hope.

I love creating something special and unique that’s true to what’s in my heart and soul, and connecting with my audience. For me, there’s no better feeling in the world than being on stage and truly feeling what it is that I’m singing about and getting lost in that moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: Devoncahill.Bandcamp.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/devoncahillmusic
• Facebook: Facebook.com/devoncahillmusic
• Twitter: Twitter.com/dcahillmusic
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@vivoga

Image Credits
Matt Klose, Bailey Elizabeth Rogers, Eric Repice, Max Cassilly