Penned by London-based pop extraordinaire Dan Devlin, ‘SCREAM’ is packed to the brim with uplifting, mainstream goodness. Oscillating between alt-pop and EDM-flavoured tones, the EP looks to the future, at least sonically. Lyrically, it’s oriented towards a bold, nostalgic outlook, one that’s steeped in resilience and independence. Writing about past breakups and romantic push-and-pull, the record is as authentic, personal and wholesome as it could be.
A multi-talented figure, Devlin excels in pretty much everything he does, from writing to performing, to DJing and producing. Experiencing the music industry from a holistic perspective, Dan appears uniquely placed to make a real difference in the British pop landscape. We believe in him: ‘SCREAM’ is a beautifully catchy and relatable record, nuanced and meaningful despite the EP’s euphoric, striking contemporary character.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Devlin to learn more about his artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Dan, how is it going? Thanks for chatting with us! I have been listening to your latest EP ‘Scream’, and I have to say, it’s a pretty perfect slice of mainstream pop. Euphoric, yet introspective and meaningful, with a pinch of fierceness thrown in for good measure. We’ll dig deeper into your songwriting later in this article, but for now, how proud are you of this EP, and could we say that it is effectively kickstarting a new era in your artistic journey?
Hey hey, I’m glad you like it! Each track makes me feel different which is why i think i love it so much and was so happy to put it out.
Dealing with heartbreaks and emotional crises seems to be a central theme in ‘SCREAM’. Are you writing from a personal perspective? Was there a particular event that you took inspiration from?
Always. I actually struggle to write from a different place, its something I’m working on as a songwriter i always like to give myself a challenge. I love being a student of music but I guess these tracks are about a few different people actually. When I’m writing I can take the tiniest occurrence and dream it into a song but this was pretty spot on as far as concept goes.
I’d love to know more about your creative process (relative to the EP); since you are also a producer, do you usually take charge of the sonic aspect of your records too? What were some of the references you had in mind for ‘SCREAM’?
On this project, I worked with my (ridiculously talented) friend LAWRENT, who really draws the best out of me sonically. Although I produce some of my tracks myself, LAWRENT is one of my favourite and most amazing collaborators, we just get each other. What I love about working with him is that there are no sonic boundaries; we can go wherever we want.
We also bring out the best in my voice, and we’re close enough for him to tell me if I can do better. We pulled a world of sounds from my favourite electronic artist,s such as Troye Sivan and Robyn, then gave it a slightly heavier kick with the electric guitars on the record.
Despite Dan Devlin being a recent moniker, the human behind him holds a strong, experienced foothold in the music industry, especially as a writer. Is collaboration important for you? Do you prefer writing alone or within a team?
My ideas 90% of the time will start with me alone in my flat (and at the most random times) – but I do love taking them further with other ears and opinions that I trust, collaboration is amazing when it’s with the right people. I always love to grab coffee (etc.) with someone first, even if it’s just 30 minutes before the session, especially if we don’t know each other already.
What can one expect from your DJ sets? I noticed some social media bits where you also incorporate a keyboard and some live singing. Is that part of your typical live set?
Be ready for high energy if you come to a DJ set! I guess it links slightly into my artist project in that when I’m doing a guest set, I will work it similarly to a live show set. I want to people on a journey. I liken it to deciding a track list for a mixtape or an album. If I’m DJing majority it’ll be just me and the decks – maybe a mic.
Again, I want to be learning non-stop, otherwise I get bored. I tend to throw in different elements, such as a keyboard to challenge myself, but best believe when I’m playing festivals it’s about the performance and vocals for me. I’d rather do them separately and execute them correctly. If people are spending money and time to come see me, I want to give them a SHOW.
Now for a rather playful question: how many times have you left your exes on read? What is, in your experience, the best way of dealing with a breakup?
More times than I can count. I think I’m good at sticking to my guns. Like, if I’ve decided it is done, it’s done. I’m a very all-or-nothing person in most aspects of my life, to be honest. My favourite way of dealing is writing, and I’ll post a thirst trap or 10 if they’ve really annoyed me.
It is fair to say that you have a deep knowledge of the British music industry, and how to navigate it. if you had to give an advice to any aspiring artist out there, what would that be?
I think being in the industry for a while, you have to be, and it is bizarre to me when other artists have no clue, I’m like … in this climate you gotta know your stuff (for your own sake, no one else’s).
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
I have soooo much music! I’m kind of deciding on what I want to put out next. I feel like I’m sitting on some stuff that just needs to be out. I always say I’d rather have my songs out than sit on my hard drive. This summer we’ve got some festivals coming up, including As One Festival in London and another big London date that I’m so excited to play, but I can’t announce it just yet…!
