Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Boyd.
Devon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Well it started when I was a kid or possibly at pre-teen aged. I was born in New Orleans but grew up in Dallas. I’ve always been a creative in the arts: drawing, graphic design, digital art, poetry and music. However, music has always been my passion. So my musical roots definitely stem from Louisiana. My parents have exposed me to all genres of music. In addition my mother used to practice playing music on a keyboard and my dad played trumpet in high school & dabbled in the bass. My uncle (my dad’s brother) had a band in New Orleans and also produced music. He introduced me to this music software, at the time, called Sonic Foundry Acid. I couldn’t afford it, but I did save up enough money to buy MTV Music Generator on my Playstation (1st gen) where I created all sorts of beats on it.
However, once I was able to finally afford Sonic Foundry Acid my musical career began to take off from there. I was maybe about 14 years old when I started producing music for friends also starting their music careers. The older I got the more I learned about music. However, I wanted to further my education & knowledge so I went to school for audio engineering and music business. After school, a large portion of my musical career was being in the background helping others jumpstart their careers and projects with audio recordings so they could build their EPKs. But I realized that I was neglecting myself as an artist so I got back into producing music. While trying to promote my own music and others, I noticed that the culture of DJ’ing had changed. It was like, most DJs didn’t have that vibe for “putting people on” anymore. So as a result, I began DJing to put myself in a position to spin my own music as well as others and restore that original DJ culture. Learning how to DJ was quite easy being that I already produced music and had an eclectic ear for it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This journey in the music industry has always been a challenge. When I initially started doing music, the struggle was trying to get people to buy your CDs (remember those). I purchased this CD duplicator to press up CDs for myself and other artists I worked with. At that time, social media wasn’t nearly as big as it is now, so finding ways to promote oneself was difficult if you didn’t have a huge fan base and shows. In addition, if you didn’t know the right people or have the right network, you weren’t going to get your music heard. Fortunately, I was good a networking and found ways to be connected with the right people. However, because I stayed in the background, I didn’t have much to show when making those connections. Also, some of the artist I worked with back then had either stopped doing music, disbanded or I lost contact. In addition, the industry was starting to phase out CDs and get more into streaming. So then I was tasked with learning new networks to connect with.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am honestly a jack of all trades when it comes to the arts (music, videography, graphic design, poetry, dancing, etc.). However, my specialty and passion is DJ’ing and music. I like to say that I don’t “make beats” but I compose audible art that will send you on a journey. My eclectic taste of music enables me to produce any genre but with my own flavor on it. My signature is having no signature. Several producers have that “thing” that makes you know it’s them. Whereas my approach to creating music is because it feels good. I almost never sample or build something because it’s “what people want to hear”. The thing is, sometimes people don’t know what they want to hear until you tell them (audibly) with your amazing song and sound. So I feel that is what sets me apart from other DJ/producers. I’m proud of the strides I’ve made in this industry without ever being signed to a label, having major features, name dropping, or paying to play. It really has been my hard work, education/experience, and networking that has got me to where I am today.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In 5-10 years, I see myself being a major conduit and resource for artists/musicians to get themselves heard. I finally have the right people in my circle to make that happen and still growing. Now, I’m very knowledgeable on how this industry works. So it’s just a matter of me showing the world what I have to offer as an artist/producer/DJ.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cysummusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cysummusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cysummusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnt-K5JFYjVEV5eHMmo_i-Q
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/cysummusic
- Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/Cysum/
Image Credits
Tia Boyd
