Devon Again Is Just Getting Started

It’s 19:20 and Devon is sitting on her porch or perhaps somewhere in a galaxy far, far away (thanks to Zoom backgrounds). Either way, I’m chatting to Devon fresh off the release of her latest single ‘snake the drain’, and it's clear she's entering a new creative chapter with both confidence and curiosity.

The track, which carries a playful country twang alongside Devon's signature alternative edge, has already opened up a whole new world of possibilities for the singer-songwriter. "I've always had a bit of humour in my music, lyrically and sonically," she explains. "Like using a cowbell in there. In doing that, the sandbox is larger, if you will. There's so much more to pull from and so much more to be inspired by."

I had to ask if this was an ongoing sound we will hear from Devon but she expressed that ‘snake the drain’ isn't about committing to country music and rather about permitting herself to experiment."The goal for me is just to keep evolving." That openness has led her to discover new influences along the way. While making the track, Devon found herself listening heavily to Hardy's album A ROCK, where she shares, "He's just a guy, and his songwriting is so smart and understandable," she says. "Particularly on that album, it's so clear what world you're in because of the clichés associated with country."

At the same time, another unexpected influence found its way into her rotation: Cake's Fashion Nugget. "That record made the country world feel really tangible."

If you’re chronically online, Devon isn’t new to your algorithms, and as a long-time follower, Devon recently received life-changing news that she'll be joining Olivia Rodrigo on the North American leg of the Unraveled tour!  When mentioning this to Devon, it’s clear that the reality of it still hasn't fully sunk in. "Overall, the feeling of having this information and still processing it, feels so special," she says. "Having music as a career is something super tangible for me, so having this opportunity has been overwhelming because I don't know what to expect, and I'm so unbelievably honoured that I get to do it. And to top it all off, Devon shared a recent full-circle moment, where she stumbled across an old TikTok of herself singing Olivia Rodrigo songs in her bedroom. "Knowing that I'm going on tour with her is surreal."

The opportunity marks another major milestone in a career that has steadily grown since her debut EP Pee in 2022 and the release of In Order in 2025. But while In Order was built around a carefully refined narrative, Devon says her current creative process is much more experimental. "I think by the time I was making In Order, I felt the need for a refined story," she says. "But now, with what John and I are making, the goal is to try and find that story and what we're craving, overall just seeing how big it can be and what we can touch on." 

I tried to ask if a larger project is on the horizon and while we didn’t get an exact answer Devon expressed that she wants  to push herself as far as possible creatively. "It's horrifically daunting, and who knows how it will feel down the track, but right now in the throes of it, it's so consuming and overwhelming to decide on what I want to say and share about my life."

Fans hoping ‘snake the drain’ signals a full country pivot may need to temper their expectations. Devon laughs off the idea, quickly confirming the single is probably "the farthest to country we'll get." However, she promises a sonically broader era ahead, featuring more instruments and newer sounds, including mandolin!

Of course, part of Devon's appeal has always been the emotional connection she builds with audiences during her live shows. Watching fans fully immerse themselves in her music remains one of her favourite parts of performing. When asked which song she's most excited to bring to the stage, she admits she prefers to leave expectations at the door.

"I don't know until I do it," she says. "There's a part of me that has a slight hint of that feeling when making particular tracks, but I delete it from my mind and get surprised when performing and people feel a certain way which makes it more special."

But don’t worry, ‘snake the drain’ is a track she's particularly eager to test out in front of crowds.

"At least later on tour, I'm excited for this [snake the drain] because it's so high-energy and challenging for me. I'm excited to see if/how I can improve when performing it."

Any future bodies of work from Devon represent another significant first: it's her first release under a major label through Interscope and Amusement. Reflecting on the achievement brought a moment to not burst into happy tears, I asked Devon to think back to the little girl who idolised Hayley Williams and Hannah Montana, "I would probably just let her know that she's doing the right thing. To trust yourself and every decision that got me here. Moving to LA and continuing to live in LA despite how hard it was, and not quitting. This is one of the things, one of the whys you keep going."

It's a sentiment that feels especially fitting for an artist whose career has been built on persistence and commitment to growth. Speaking of growth, Devon also made her way to Australia earlier this year, where local audiences fell in love with her. When reflecting on her time spend down under, she didn’t wait to share "The coffee there is awesome, you guys don't know how good you have it," she laughs. But beyond the caffeine, the trip was so much more meaningful to Devon, "It was so special to be there, not because I wanted to visit as a tourist, but for my career and for music, to get to know everyone there." And yes, she also loved the Bin Chickens.”

With new music, a major-label chapter, a massive Olivia Rodrigo tour and a growing global fanbase, Devon Ross finds herself standing on the edge of her biggest era yet.

Despite not sharing too much, I asked Devon to give us three words to describe the next era…

"Dirt. Yelling. Hugging."

And honestly, we can't wait. But in the meantime, make sure you listen to ‘snake the drain’ or check out Devon on tour with Olivia Rodrigo later this year!