Q&A with DeVille

As a young band, how have you grown together since you first formed DeVille? What traits have you taken from your bandmates? What have you learned from them that has made you a better musician?

GiGi: DeVille started with Ian, Trevor and I. Our first show, July 19, 2008, consisted of 3 songs. Since then we have been determined to break through the DC music scene, bringing our talents together, adding a new and very positive member to the band (Patches), and announcing to the world that DeVille is hungry for music. We now have about 13 original songs and they keep coming as the band get tighter.

What traits have you taken from your bandmates? I wouldn’t say there are any traits but we have definitely learned and continue to learn about our musicianship through each other. What have you learned from them that has made you a better musician? We have learned to highlight and complement each other’s strengths and also help each other strengthen our weaknesses. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys. I do not play an instrument but somehow they find a way to bring my lyrics to life in a way that I can only imagine.

Ian: Well, when Gigi and I started playing together and figuring out guitar parts and lyrics, we clicked. I could bring a new riff to her and she could have lyrics in a day. Now we still have that spontaneity, but we’ll take an idea and spend a lot more time working out parts and structure, rather than just drive headfirst through a song and hope it comes out right.

I don’t know that I’ve taken any traits from my bandmates; it’s our individuality that makes us interesting. I think we’re all learning the hard work that goes into a band. You reach a point where you’re not just jamming and playing around; you start figuring out parts and how the bass and drums have to work together, and what the guitar can do to accent that. I’m learning to be diplomatic about intra-band critique, because I tend to be a sarcastic dick, and that never goes over well.

Patrick: I am just now starting to learn from them and about them. If anything they are getting me in the habit of practicing all the time and pushing me to improve my skills.

Trevor: I feel we have grown greatly with the new addition of our bassist. Our sound is much more full and well rounded. The traits I’ve taken from the other band mates? Well Patrick, I think his sense of hair and his ability to look remarkably like one of the Jonas brothers. Ian’s Members Only jackets and love for the Breakfast Club, and Gabby’s cooking and the volume of food she’s able to put away!

You all live together now in the same house... pros and cons?

GiGi: Living together has been an adventure so far. We are definitely family oriented and we treat each other that way. I am like the little sister in some ways but the mom in others. And what can I say, boys will be boys. We pick on each other, we fight sometimes, but it’s mostly all love. And the best part is we play music whenever we want.

Ian: Ha, the $64,000 question. Pros, I don’t have to drive to practice, and I have a place to keep my ever-expanding collection of gear. If I’m working on something or want to talk about a song, Trevor and Gigi are upstairs. The cons are all personal; it’s the normal stuff most people go through getting used to new roommates and learning all of the fun things you only learn after moving in.

Patrick: I don’t live with them and it is nice as I get to be the one on the outside who can be impartial if they need to talk about stuff and get it off their chest.

Trevor: Well right now Patrick is the only member not living at the house, but I feel the pros are being able to work on new material whenever the feeling comes to us. Cons, Gabby eats all the goddamn cookies.

Who writes the lyrics? Who writes the music?

GiGi: Ian and I write all the lyrics and we all work collectively on the music. Every one pretty much is responsible for their parts but we all have say in the end.

Ian: I write guitar parts and I usually have some sort of skeleton of a bass part for Pat to play with, mostly Gigi writes lyrics. But on “City Girl,” I wrote the music and lyrics; “Same Sad Love Song” is based on a guitar riff Gigi came up with. Right now we’re working on a song based around a bass riff. We try to be very diplomatic about bringing ideas to the table.

Patrick: I’ve written a couple of the bass parts. I like to get something from Ian and then put my own touches on it.

Trevor: Gabrielle and Ian collectively write the songs.

Do you prefer live music, improvisation, or sticking to the sheet music?

GiGi: I prefer live music. I feed off the crowd’s energy.

Ian: I prefer knowing the sheet music so that when you play live you can improvise.

Patrick: I think its awesome if you are good at improv but too much of it can end up being a lil boring. You need that hook in a song to bring it all back together.

Trevor: Improvisational and live music I think have the most genuine and spontaneous emotion.

What made you want to be a musician? When was the defining moment when you dedicated yourself to the music world?

GiGi: I have been singing since I was 11yrs old. It has always been my passion but it wasn’t until I moved out of my hometown in NY out to DC that I knew music was my life. I surround myself with people that loved music as much as I do. The defining moment for me was when I sang with my best friend’s band. It’s one thing to go to a concert of a popular band but when it’s someone you grew up with it’s a way different experience. Singing with his band, Red Ink, and looking out at the crowd enjoying and relating to their songs was amazing. I wanted it for myself. Sounds a little selfish but it was then that I knew, all I wanted to do was music.

Ian: My mom had me playing the violin at 3 years old. As long as I can remember I’ve either played or been completely enthralled by music. When I was six, I was really into Kriss Kross, and I used to record my own raps on a tape player. True story. I think it was the Beatles that made me want to be in a band. I had seen music videos and thought they were really cool, but it was listening to “Revolver” that made me really decide to pick up a guitar. Some weird mix of Kurt Cobain and George Harrison.

Patrick: Flea and the Warped Tour. I play bass due to Flea and the warped tour was my motivation to continue to play. All it takes is seeing a good show and you are hooked and ready to play a show yourself.

Are there plans to record? When is your first album coming out?

GiGi: There are definitely plans to record in April. Look out for an album May 2009.

Ian: We’re in the process of putting together a solid demo; hopefully once we get the tracks laid down we can look at getting them mastered and actually put out an EP. We’ll be sure you all know when the EP comes out.

Patrick: In the works now.

If you had to choose the menu for your last meal, what would it be? (Morbid I know, but you can tell a lot about a person by the food they eat.)

GiGi: Mmmm food. I would have to have a 3 course meal. Cesar salad to start (that’s my favorite), my mom’s curry chicken and rice & beans, with her potato salad and honey baked ham. And I would have to have Carvel’s vanilla cream with the crunchies and warm apple pie. I am so hungry now!!!!!! This girl is not shy about her food.

Ian: Damn, that takes some serious thought. I’m going to pig out because I’m indecisive and I love so much food.

I’d have my mom’s chicken and broccoli casserole, some green bean casserole (like the Thanksgiving one with fried onions on top), General Tso’s chicken from Triple Dragon in Missoula, Montana, and some bangin’ drinks. Appleton Purple Label rum, a nice single malt Scotch like a Laphroaig, a really nice pinot noir.

And fuck it, if it’s my last meal, give me a fat spliff, some acid, a line or two of coke and a Cuban cigar. I wanna go out with a bang.

Patrick: Lobster Bisque, thin crust pepperoni pizza with a glass of skim milk, My mother’s broccoli cheese casserole, a whole ton of sushi, and a piece of cheesecake with a side of ice cream.