Meet Devin Powers of Powers Music Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devin Powers.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Born in Redwood City California in the SF Bay Area. Started playing guitar at the age of seven. Started performing with bands at 13. At 18 formed band called” the Kids” Played all the clubs around SF and all the colleges.

Bill Graham and the Manager of Journey Herbie Herbie took a liking to my playing and sent me to LA to start a band with Ex Journey Drummer Anysley Dunbar. We got signed to Atlantic for a five-song deal.

The songs I wrote for that Atlantic ep came to the Attention of the Bass player of The Who John Entwistle, John asked me to come to England and record those songs with him for a new Solo band THE ROCK, that included Zak Starkey on Drums ( Ringo’s Son).

After returning to SF from the touring with John, I began Producing loads of local artist and producing lots of my own indie records. I even recorded and mixed and Band call Stone Fox with Linda Perry,( before her mega songwriter days)

Still performing  with my various band in the local clubs , one night I ran into Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats, after jamming a bit , Lee asked me to write and play with him on his tours with his solo band we recorded, and we toured all over Europe and Also in the states opening For Willie Nelson and Leon Russel.

During this period one a studio band I created called “The Vents” The last indie record I produced for myself, playing most all of the parts got released thru Cargo Record in San Diego. They called one day and asked if I wanted to be Signed to MCA / Universal alongside another Cargo records act Blink 182.

The Vents went on tour, opening for SmashMouth, Radio Head, Foo Fighters Matchbox 20 and many others and with our number #3 single on the charts ” One Way Ticket ” it was an amazing tour!

End of That year During the big Universal Merger I was asked to create music for a new TV show called Blind Date in a new format,  Reality TV, the year was 1999.

Blind date being a huge hit led me to a number of other TV show gigs… Powers Music Company was born, and we have now created music for over 700 tv shows in the past 20 years.

Along with Tv score, we produce, Theatrical Trailer Promo music with our Label “Synapse Trailer Music,” and also have started a Vocal Pop label Called “Big Vox records”…

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? The music business is never a smooth road, its twist, and turns. I suppose, very early on, I did my best to work and enjoy within whatever musical madness came my way.

Luckier than some I imagine, Blessed to have worked with so many amazing artists, many of whom I did not even mention because well there is a book in the works and I am certain there are limitations on what we can do in an interview like this.

I will say my first 6 months working at the TV, at Blind date, I nearly quit, I was working 24/7 writing music day and night trying to fill up 175 episodes with tracks, under the gun all the time from the editors and producers.

But I broke thru the barrier and found a way to create, fast, keep the quality high and serve the producers and the show… composing, on call, with deadlines is not for the faint of heart…

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Powers Music Company – what should we know?
Powers Music makes high-quality music. That is what we are known for and have been known for since we started. My Background is producing records and performing, so I suppose we come at music from a visceral and pop angle…

What am proud of? 700 Tv shows in 20 years ASCAP and SESAC awards on the walls for my shows. And for being able to create a sustainable level of high quality, that yearns to stay ahead of the curve. Shows like

Running Wild With Bear Grylls (NBC & NatGeo); The Amazing Race (CBS); The Bachelor (ABC); Naked and Afraid, Naked & Afraid XL, Bear Grylls Shark Week, The Darkness (Discovery); Paternity Court, Couples Court (MGM Syndication); Aaron Hernandez Uncovered, Buried In the Back Yard (Oxygen); Whacked Out Sports HD (Syndication); Objectified (Fox) You Vs Wild on Netflix

What I am most happy with is All the editors, I work with that love using the music we create for their shows. There is no award, and list of shows.. that gives me more pleasure than walking into an Edit bay, and have the editors come out and thank me for giving them such strongmusic to use, music that tells stories.

Its also great seeing some of the people that have assisted me over the years go one to such great heights, it’s great to know I was part of their path and was able to guide them a bit.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Keeping music fresh and timely is so important. It’s also important to deeply care about what the Showrunner and Network are trying to say with their show.

High level of arrangement and mixing along with sounds that really helps a show sing. In my world, the score and the music created for the show is the thruline… I think we take more chances and push the threshold way further, that others.

That’s the way we like it.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 818-970-5928
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: devin.powersmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devin.powersmusic
• Twitter: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqq5Cj6uCD080pUJHqqfQWA?view_as=subscriber
• Yelp: https://powerstrailermusic.sourceaudio.com/#!albums
• Other: https://synapsetrailermusic.sourceaudio.com/#!albums

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.