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

Devyn, appreciate you joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

Well, you know, we kicked off our journey in 2019 and it was like… Bam! Straight to the stage. Songs just poured out of us, gigs were landing at our feet and we were flying. Then, 2020 happened. World stopped spinning, band members changing, uncertainty everywhere. Yet, we kept on writing, practicing when we could during lockdown. Even had a few video chats. It was a wild ride, I tell you.

Devyn, 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?

Alright, let’s go back a bit. Miguel and I, we crossed paths in college during a music program. We hit it off from the get-go and Miguel, he’d already set his sights on Stephen, our drummer, who’s a core member, mind you. We didn’t know much about each other, but we knew we shared the same drive: “make music that’s got its own personality, different from what you hear around Denver.”

Our band, it started as “Box Wine.” Sounds playful, right? But we evolved, and so did the name. We translated it to Latin – “Cista Vinum.” It’s kinda symbolic of our growth as a band.

Now, our band, it’s this incredible mix of backgrounds and passions. Stephen, for instance, was a full-kit drummer for RISE, a state-wide percussion ensemble. Braden and Jeremy – they’re our keys and bass guys – were part of RISE for a combined 11 years. Braden, he’s a jack-of-all-trades, does everything from songwriting to keys, guitar, and singing. Jeremy, he played bass for RISE and he still carries that over. Miguel, our guitarist, he’s had his music journey start as a kid, was self-taught, and now has a BA in music. Then there’s me, Devyn, the lead vocals. Been performing since 2013.

The best part is how we all blend together. Watching each member grow in their art is something I’m truly proud of.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Our mission? Yeah, let’s talk about that. So here’s the deal: each of us knew we had the chops as artists. We had the experience, the discipline, but growing up or in college, we weren’t the ‘popular’ types. We didn’t have a huge entourage, our band practice wasn’t about partying hard – though don’t get me wrong, we do know how to unwind. It’s just that our wild nights are more about sipping tequila from plastic cups over a chess game. Our goal was to flip the script by being genuinely ourselves, while also proving that we had something unique to offer to the music scene.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Unlearning… Now there’s a term! One thing we had to unlearn, believe it or not, was setting high expectations. We tend to be our own harshest critics, question our next steps even after a flood of praise. But you know what? We’re learning to let go a bit, trust our music, and just live in the moment. It’s been tough, but together, as a band and friends, we’re learning to let loose and trust in the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.cistavinum.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cistavinum?igshid=ZGUzMzM3NWJiOQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CistaVinum?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cistavinum852
• TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTRK5chxP/

Image Credits
Rocky Montaño Photography Maritza