The tenth album by American songwriter Kevin Devine was released on March 25th, 2022. The third single from the long player “Nothing’s Real, So Nothing’s Wrong” is called “It’s A Trap!”. The video, featuring a live acoustic version of the song, is available exclusively on ROLLING STONE.
Devine’s career: From journalist to songwriter
The Brooklyn-born singer is best known for his down-to-earth folk sound. But that wasn’t always the case: even before Devine turned his life entirely to music, he planned a career as a journalist. He initially worked as a freelancer for various New York magazines and also performed solo in cafés and at open mic nights. During this time he also formed the emo band Miracle of 86, with whom he disrupted the local indie rock scene. However, he later decided to return to a quieter solo career, and the band split up in 2003.
Since then, Devine has released nine albums and has been on various labels. His latest record is now out on Triple Crown/Round Hill.
A pop song about freedom and truth
The new disc contains eleven tracks that the musician wrote between January 2019 and March 2020. Most of the songs were recorded in the private homes of Devine and his colleague Chris Bracco. Only the drums were recorded in the studio. The two experimented a lot with synthesizers, sound effects and field recordings, inspired by the Flaming Lips’ “The Soft Bulletin”.
Regarding “It’s A Trap!” Devine says: The title “is what a pop song is to me. Sugar and salt, on the tongue and in the tank. Gallows humor in the moment of transcendence. You can’t save your ass and save your reputation at the same time, so the only way is ahead – The truth is the only thing that really sets you free – But how free do you want to be?”
ROLLING STONE presents the acoustic version of the single “It’s A Trap!” exclusively here:
Freedom and resistance, individuality and society: These are all themes that concern Kevin Devine on “Nothing’s Real, So Nothing’s Wrong” and lead to the “self” for him. For the ‘self’ is one of the few places where we can resist at all. You can try to take everything from me, but you can’t get the space between my ears, the space in my chest,” the singer said in the album’s press release.
An interview with Kevin Devine can be found in the current print edition of ROLLING STONE.