UK singer-songwriter Devon has built his career on sincerity — the kind that cuts through noise and finds beauty in imperfection. His new mixtape When The World Goes Quiet out 24 October captures that essence perfectly: written late at night, it dives into guilt, connection, anxiety, and the calm that follows. Fresh off a massive summer tour with McFly and heading into his biggest headline run yet, Devon is stepping into a defining chapter. We caught up with him to talk about the record, live shows, and what happens when everything else finally goes quiet.
Your new mixtape WHEN THE WORLD GOES QUIET was mostly written at night. What is it about the quiet hours that unlocks your most honest writing?
I think it’s just down to the lack of distraction when it hits a specific hour. I live in quite a rural place, so when it hits 9pm, it can feel like the whole world has gone to sleep. If I have been writing for most of the day, I usually find the core ideas seem to come around then. I think it’s a weird mixture of being tired and having no distractions in the quiet that almost lulls me into a flow state without me knowing. I don’t think the time of day has much to do with the subject matter of the songs; it just seems to be when I get those little sparks to start an idea.
The project moves through guilt, fleeting connections, anxiety, and clarity. Was there one track that felt especially raw or difficult to finish?
I wouldn’t say there was one particular track that was difficult to finish, but there were definitely moments where I would overthink certain lyrics, which may have felt too personal and real. I think releasing music that talks about guilt and anxiety can feel scary to know you will be revealing it for everyone to hear.
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“UNDECIDED” balances empathy with self-reflection. How do you approach writing songs that hold a mirror up to yourself while still connecting with listeners?
I would say a lot of my songs are self-reflective without it even being the intention. I think it’s just always been a writing style of mine to reflect on past experiences when they feel most clear. I’m not a big fan of “mean songs” that paint the writer as the good guy and the other person as the villain. I think it’s important to paint honest pictures of yourself as an artist because there are people out there who are looking to find comfort and relatability in the music they listen to. I want to make sure that it represents my experience honestly.
You’ve said these songs showed you a side of yourself that isn’t perfect. How do you balance vulnerability with confidence as a performer?
I think the writing and performance side of things are very separated in my mind. When I’m writing, I’m writing, and there’s no way the song is being affected by any boundary or thought. It’s just instinctual and completely in service of the song. Whatever writing, production or mixing decision that needs to be made has no guidelines. For instance, when we play live, there are just three people on stage, but when I’m writing, I’m not thinking that I’m only allowed to write 3 parts. It’s more “let’s write it and figure it out later”. So subject-wise, I’m confident I can write about anything because in my mind, when I come to planning the live show, it just has to work. I think I always have the live show in the back of my mind when I write, so come the actual performance, I feel confident no matter what. The songs are just songs by then, and I can kind of detach myself from the emotion it took to write them.
This summer you supported McFly to over 40,000 fans. What lessons did you take from those huge shows that you’re bringing into your own headline tour?
I think the main lesson I took away was that it’s possible to do this for a long time. And I don’t mean by just for a career, I mean in terms of protecting their love for it. Those guys have been operating at the highest level since they were like 17, and I find that so wild. They still look like they absolutely live for it on stage, which is something that inspires me a lot. Every show was a learning experience, and I would play my set, then get to watch some of theirs, and the next day take what I learnt into our set.
Your upcoming London show at Colours Hoxton is a milestone. What does stepping onto that stage mean to you at this point in your career?
I think at this point, all of the smoke and mirrors of this industry have well and truly disappeared. I’m finding myself realising how special shows truly are in their essence. No matter how big or small, I’m taking them in and enjoy them. I think in the past I was guilty of putting too much pressure on a show, whereas now, I just try my hardest to enjoy playing music with my best mates. Not a lot of people get to experience rooms full of people singing their own songs back to you and I’m not taking it for granted.
Your sound blends indie storytelling with modern pop influences like Bon Iver and Charli XCX. How do you keep your identity clear within that mix?
That’s the first time I’ve ever been compared to Charli XCX EVER, what a compliment. It’s not something that I ever particularly shot for, but I respect her world-building and her as an unapologetic artist so much. She truly is a great artist. Same with Bon Iver. Again, it’s not something I aim for, but I think making music the way I do in the confines of what I have creates its own sound, which I can’t even really pin down, and I hope I never do. I’ve never known what my sound is because I’m always inspired by so many different things, and I’m always in service to the song I’m creating in the moment.
Looking ahead, where do you see WHEN THE WORLD GOES QUIET taking you — is it a standalone chapter, or the beginning of a bigger story?
I think every project I do is a standalone chapter in a way. There’s no way I could pull track styles/sonics into another era on purpose; it would just happen if it did. I know I won’t stop writing, so at some point, there will be something else, but right now I have nothing in the pipeline for the first time since like 2019. I think I plan on taking some time after this mixtape and living a bit of life, writing for others and letting the fans sit with this project. I know people are expecting an album, but I’m not in a position to make that happen yet.. but maybe. I really don’t know. I’ve been consistently releasing music since 2019 and writing in solitude, and all I know is I need to live some life and get in the room with some other creatives and get uncomfortable again.
Catch Devon on his 2025 tour dates:
- Thu 06 November – Heartbreakers, Southampton
- Sat 08 November – Thekla, Bristol
- Thu 13 November – Colours, London
- Fri 14 November – The Lodge at Deaf Institute, Manchester
- Fri 21 November – Zerox, Shooting Gallery, Newcastle
- Sat 22 November – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds