Devon Gilfillian leaves it all out in the atmosphere.
Devon Gilfillian leaves it all out in the atmosphere.
Video directed by Angie Scarpa, all photos by Larry Hirshowitz

Devon Gilfillian: KCRW Live from Apogee Studio

Intimate performances, fresh sounds, and candid conversations with a view.

Written by Marion Hodges

Soul singer-songwriter Devon Gilfillian is on a mission to obliterate political polarization.  Born and raised in the Philly suburbs and now based in Nashville, Gilfillian has devoted the bulk of his burgeoning career to the thorny conversations that so many of us exert big energy to avoid.  

Gillfilian transcribes these often hours-long talks into lyrics delivered over pristinely arranged soul-stirrers. Catalog highlights include tracks like “Cracks in the Ceiling,” written for NPR’s Morning Edition Song Project to capture life in the era of COVID-19; “The Good Life,” a knockout portrait of utopia anchoring his 2020 debut LP Black Hole Rainbow; and the powerhouse “Love You Anyway,” from his 2023 album of the same name. In Gilfillian’s scenarios, all parties walk away with their bonds intact, or better yet, strengthened through the process.

“It's my job,” Gilfillian tell’s KCRW’s Rocio “Wyldeflower” Contreras during his recent session Live From: Apogee Studio. “You know, that's my responsibility. This is a gift that I was given to give to people to heal… to hopefully make people want to love each other a little bit more.”

More: Alison Russell: KCRW Live From Apogee Studio

But Gilfillian’s live sets aren’t just for heaviness and healing. The man and his airtight band — Gilfillian (lead vocals and guitar), Jon Smalt (drums), Josh Blaylock (keys), and Matthew Chancey (Bass) — are here with a masterclass in letting loose and getting down. Love You Anyway cuts like “All I Wanna Do” and “Brown Sugar Queen” will have you feeling all kinds of amorous. Plus, they break out their hard-grooving cover of Marvin Gaye’s seminal 1971 anthem “What’s Going On” and deliver a triumphant rendition of the song “Love You Anyway,” performed as a rousing duet with friend, labelmate, and fellow Nashvillian Alison Russell (along with both artists’ full bands).

Watch the full performance via the video at the top of this page. Watch the interview video below for Contreras and Gilfillian’s delightfully freewheeling discussion about his musical lineage, crafting a signature coffee blend (but never physically roasting coffee beans while on tour), and how many cats you can have before you’re “crazy cat guy.”







More: Explore KCRW Live From sessions

This KCRW Live From session was recorded and mixed by Brandon Duncan at Bob Clearmountain’s Apogee Studio. Learn more at Apogeedigital.com

Credits:

KCRW Music Director: Anne Litt
Interviewer: Rocio “Wyldeflower” Contreras
Director/Editor/Colorist: Angie Scarpa
Directors of Photography: Dalton Blanco and Vice Cooler
Camera Operators: Dalton Blanco, Vice Cooler, and Angie Scarpa
KCRW Engineer: Katie Gilchrest
Executive Producer and Broadcast Editor: Ariana Morgenstern 
Producers: Anna Chang and Krissy Barker
Digital Producer: Marion Hodges
Digital Editorial Manager: Andrea Domanick
Art Director: Evan Solano

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