Music
Devenny, best known for his work as part of the acclaimed collective 404 Guild, has today released his debut solo single, ‘PSYCHE’.
Produced by Mac Weather, it’s the first in a series of tracks and videos to be released each month by Devenny. Inaugural single, ‘PSYCHE’, is a post-breakup excavation of his past; a murky, trap-infused cut that reconciles the rapper’s fraught, formative memories spent on the Southeast coast, with the isolation he felt after his relationship ended recently.
“’PSYCHE’ was written after I returned to my hometown of Eastbourne following a difficult breakup. Although I was born in London, I moved to Eastbourne at around 13. My relationship with the place is complex. Growing up, it was a predominantly racist town, and that often distorted my sense of identity. I believe many Black individuals who grew up in seaside towns, or towns without the multicultural vibrancy of a city, can relate to the experience. You find yourself trying to fit in, but without access to your own culture and identity, you end up trying to blend in with the status quo. So, whenever I return to my hometown, it’s usually to visit family or when something has gone wrong, and I need space to reflect.“
Devenny continues: “The inspiration for the song came to me during a particularly emotional moment, as I was literally sobbing while walking along the seafront to a place that I find solace often. I had never experienced heartbreak before and I was grappling with the aftermath. I struggled to comprehend how you could share something so intimate and personal with someone and then transition from deep love to nothingness.”
Devenny’s influences are far-reaching and diverse. His work takes cues from video game composers Austin Wintory and Disasterpeace, photographer Gregory Crewdson, author Han Kang, electronic act Slow Attack Ensemble, and rapper Yeat’s phonetic phrasing and “ability to craft seemingly nonsensical phrases that are so captivating.”
404 Guild released a multitude of projects since their formation in 2019, including albums ‘Pebbledash‘ and 2022’s ‘False Dawn‘.
Watch Devenny’s video for ‘PSYCHE’ below.
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Photo Credit: Lurch
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