Photo Credit: Hudson Wren

Devon More – Five Questions With

Jenna Melanson·January 25, 2024

Vancouver Musician Devon More Shares Empowering New Single “MY BODY IS”

Vancouver musician Devon More shares her empowering new single “My Body Is” out now on all digital streaming platforms.

The latest single from her new album Sky Is Falling, set for release on February 29th, “My Body Is,” is a powerful anthem for the fundamental right of bodily autonomy.

“‘My Body Is’ is a complete sentence: my body exists, and that is enough,” says Devon. “The song is my attempt to disentangle a lifetime of mixed media messages and societal projections onto my female body – and ultimately celebrate the simple living magic in ALL body machines. Every flesh home is worthy – no matter what it looks like, or where we may find ourselves on the love/hate relationship spectrum on any given day.”

Devon’s latest single follows the release of previous tracks “Finally Yours” and “Songbird” in 2023. And “My Body Is” is not just the latest single from her new album; it’s also one of 5 original songs featured in Devon More’s critically acclaimed stage show – Hits Like A Girl (premiered/toured in 2019) – an immersive soundscape and poetic manifesto exploring the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury acquired in her early 20s that left her in an altered state of consciousness for years.

From Kamloops but currently based in Vancouver, Devon is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumental musician (guitar, flute, and more), and genre-bending performance artist who combines insightful lyrics and infectious melodies in alternative pop rock songs served with a side of symphony. Centered on themes of wanderlust, revolution, and love, Devon’s story-driven songs illuminate universal themes while drawing rich images from her own unique life experience as a globetrotter (approx 30 countries!), polyglot (German, Dutch, English), and Traumatic Brain Injury survivor.

First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi! I’m Devon More – a singer-songwriter based in East Vancouver. My primary instruments are electric guitar and flute. At my live shows, I use a loop station so I can play them both ‘at once’ – and add in glockenspiel, vocal harmonies, digital effects, hand percussion, and anything else I can get my hands on! My favourite non-musical things are hot chocolate, open-water swimming, and my dog.

Tell us a bit about your recent release.

“My Body Is” is my riot grrrl anthem for bodily autonomy. The song is my attempt to disentangle a lifetime of mixed media messages and expectations on my female body – though I think anyone can relate to having a love/hate relationship with their body. It was written in the middle of the night during a long stretch of insomnia at a time when I was definitely NOT treating my body like a temple.

How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?

I’m always jotting down notes for lyrical inspiration in my book or app – found poetry, grievances, minor epiphanies, or random rhyming couplets that occur to me. Melodies just tend to pop into my head – especially when I’m preoccupied with something else: I’ll record them on my voice memo app if I can’t drop what I’m doing to find an instrument and piece together a chord structure.

Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?

“My Body Is” is track number one on my upcoming album – Sky Is Falling – arriving on the unlikeliest of days: February 29th(!) 2024. Sky Is Falling features 12 original songs in 3 languages (I also speak Dutch and German) on themes of wanderlust, revolution, and love. My hometown album release show in Vancouver is on March 17th, but I expect to be travelling further afield this summer – join my mailing list if you want to hear about tour dates! Or follow along online to see the complete collection of lyric videos featuring live footage at www.devonmoremusic.com

Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?

I was pretty stoked when my quirky rock opera about quantum physics (called “Flute Loops”) was selected from almost 300 productions to be one of only 4 official Holdovers at the 2018 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival (ie. North America’s largest theatre festival)…especially since earlier that summer I’d received the worst review of my life for the same show from NOW Toronto. Ha – just goes to show how subjective the arts are.