Breaking Conventions with Devin Sunshine: The Former-Country Songstress Who’s Redefining Rap
Hailing from Orange County, California, Devin Sunshine is now at that turning point in her career in which she’s really starting to come into her own, and more significantly make her mark in the rap world with her attention-grabbing, boundary-pushing rap songs. Having recently released her new album Everything Melts in the End, Devin talks us through her early years, key inspirations, the key concepts and philosophies behind her songwriting, and what she’s got coming in the future.
Just from looking at her photos it’s fairly obvious that Devin is somewhat of a genre-defying artist who likely takes inspiration from a host of different artists and genres – but she was introduced to the world of songwriting as a young teenager shortly after her dad taught her how to play guitar. She was really into Taylor Swift (and still is), whose songwriting inspired her heavily in the early days. Devin remembers the first ever song she wrote and recorded – in her neighbour’s studio – which was called Sunshine, Rain, and Happiness.
“It’s absolutely cringy to think about these days. But it is kind of interesting that I always had ‘Sunshine’ on the mind, considering my stage name is now Devin Sunshine”
Devin was able to hone her songwriting skills by coming up with complimentary melodies on the guitar to combine with her vocals, and writing to different chord progressions. She was a poetic and sentimental teenager, which impacted her first acoustic, country music inspired songs in just that way. She admits that she was also somewhat of a people pleaser in her former years, and even though she got heavily into hip hop music at age 14/15, it would be another 8 years until she would write her first rap song. During those years at college she struggled to find her purpose, always doing what she thought she should be doing and not what she wanted to do.
It was after age 20 when she dropped out of college, that she would really break the mould, start writing rap music, and not do what she was expected to do – leading her to be the uncompromising, creatively free artist she is now. Perhaps making up for the lost rebelliousness as a teenager, Devin is now quite the opposite of a people pleaser, writing defiant lyrics and unconventional music – and she rightly regrets nothing.
“But at age 14/15 I got heavily into hip hop music, and that’s when my love for rap started. I struggled for many years in finding my purpose. I grew up as a bit of a people pleaser, always doing what I thought I “should” and never truly asking myself what I really wanted to do. So when I finally realised that, and dropped out of school at age 20, I had a year or so of existential growth and discovery before I really decided “It’s now or never!” to pursue my passions, and went for it!”
Now fostering complete creative freedom, Devin explores the boundaries of rap, pop, punk, psychedelic rock, country, and even musical theatre – making for some truly unique sounds, and alluring content that is rightfully getting noticed.
It’s perhaps her diverse musical influences and the fact that she takes inspiration from a variety of different pioneering artists – like any truly innovating songwriter – that makes her music so brilliantly different and refreshing.
“I think some of my biggest influences in general are creatives who push the social norm and fight for bigger causes. Anyone with that as their drive and inspiration is inspirational to me. Some of my greatest influences in rap and hip hop are Eminen, Mac Miller, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Drake, Doja Cat, Machine Gun Kelly, Logic, and all of west coast 90s rap. In more of the pop sphere I’m really inspired by Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Qveen Herby, Ashnikko, King Princess, and of course Taylor Swift.”
But like any dedicated artist, Devin has had to overcome challenges to get where she’s at today. She cites this year (2023) in general as her biggest challenge, dealing with grief and burnout, Devin came to a stark realisation so common among creatives building their careers. Described as a common milestone for artists about “four or five years in” to their careers, it really hit Devin just how much work it’s all going to take – and this is certainly not surprising with the amount of talented output she produces. Despite many artists quitting at this stage, she’s refused to let that be the case for her, realising that the consistency she has with her work is actually her biggest strength. Having strived forward while being aware only small steps were being taken, she’s certainly appreciative for what they have added up to over five years – and we can only admire and respect her drive and determination. Even just forging a music career, let alone doing something truly different from the rest, is a huge endeavour that really does deserve recognition.
“I think I’m at the point a lot of people get to in their journey, about four or five years in, where it starts to hit you just how much this is all going to take. And it’s that point where a lot of people quit and move on because life gets in the way and dims their passion, or steals more of their time”
When asked what makes her art different from others, she simply tells us “because it’s mine! And I think that’s enough.” She then goes on to say that her diverse influences and individual life experiences are also key factors in the uniqueness of her music.
With Devin’s melting pot of genres with an overarching theme of authentic and disruptive rap – her lyrics and delivery really are as unique as they come. The overall theme of her latest album Everything Melts In The End speaks to the concept of the finite cycle of life, and that at the end of the day, nothing really should be awarded too much significance or be taken too seriously. She quotes us the lyric “I forgot to tell you… everything melts in the end.” as a perfect summary to this point.
“We all melt in the end. And isn’t that beautiful?”
Devin is also part of spooky styled duo Freaks Edge with her best friend Salem, and they put out an EP around halloween every year. So, as well as checking out Everything Melts In The End via the player below, make sure you also stay tuned to what Freaks Edge are currently concocting, and are set to release this halloween season!
A really enjoyable read- and now I’ve discovered this great new (to me) artist!
Glad to hear you enjoyed it Hilary, and that you’ve discovered Devin. Thanks for reading and your support!