Rising Stars: Meet Devine Evans

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devine Evans.

Hi Devine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For me, music began at the age of six years old. I remember obsessing over the music of Michael Jackson, Issac Hayes and Rick James. My father had a massive vinyl record collection and in our house, there were three things you could always count on; loud music, dominos and my uncles and Aunties having a good time.

Across the street from my house, a teenage band used to practice every day in their garage. I used to watch them play and I remember asking one of the guys “what I had to do to join the band?” He smiled and said, “you have to get a guitar.” That’s the day I talked my mother into buying my first guitar.

The next time the band rehearsed, I wasted no time rushing over to tell the guys in the band that I was ready to join. Their initial response was to laugh, probably because I was a cute little kid but I took it as them making fun of me.
I ran back home and I remember thinking to myself “I’ll show them.” I’ve been “showing them” ever since.

As a teenager living in East Atlanta me and my production partner got a job on the street team of So So Def. We used to go all over the city passing out flyers and vinyl records and that’s when we came across a young 14-year-old girl that said she was a rapper and her and her manager were looking for a producer. Her and her family invited us to meet them at their manager’s office and to our surprise, it ended up being the offices of the late Lisa “Lefteye” Lopes. That 14-year-old girl was Natina Reid and without realizing what we were doing, me, my partner Stylz, Ronald Lopes and my brother Eric Arnold begin molding the girl group Blaque. Natina ended up being the rapper of the group and she is the person that opened every door of opportunity in my career. R.I.P. to Her, to Lisa and to my production partner T-Stylz.

Now, twenty years later I find myself living, working and fighting to represent all of our dreams. I will never stop trying to make the loved ones I have lost proud.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Surviving in the world of music and entertainment has been everything but a smooth ride. The industry has been filled with so many snakes, coat riders, Crew hoppers and crabs in a barrel that the one thing I should be most proud of, more than working on 5 GRAMMY award-winning albums, is surviving them.

For many people in this industry, the thirst for fame can be like a disease. Sadly, I’ve seen so many beautiful and creative people become infected by this lust for popularity that eventually they completely lose the very part of them that makes them so special.

Like a Cancer, I watched their love for music grow into a dangerous obsession plagued with symptoms of ego, entitlement, and a willingness to burn every bridge they built to get one step closer to their goals. Their dreams evolve into nightmares but with the right guidance, this can be avoided.

I have spent so many years of my life teaching and guiding people with the hopes of making them strong enough to fight off and avoid this sickness. I am a firm believer that anyone that keeps God as their focal point and allows fame and success to merely be the writings on a beautiful wall, happiness will be the outcome. When it comes to music, I have one rule and it’s simple. Never forget that six-year-old little boy. Never let anyone kill or derail his dreams. Music is a gift from God and as long as I honor that gift, there is nothing anyone can ever do to stop me from winning.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In the history of music, there have been 96 diamond albums. I can proudly say I have worked on four of them.

1. TLC – Fan Mail
2. OutKast – Speaker Boxxx/The Love Below
3. Destiny’s Child – Writings on the wall
4. Lady Gaga – Fame Monster

At this point in my career, I have been blessed to contribute my work on 5 GRAMMY award-winning albums. I am an NAACP Image Award-winning Composer. For BET networks 3-part series “The New Edition Story.” I am a producer, songwriter and engineer that has earned well over 100 gold and platinum albums.

As a composer and collaborative partner with Music Director Adam Blackstone, I have worked with a wide range of artists including Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, Camilla Cabello, Selena Gomez, Bruno Mars, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, Usher with the band 1500 or Nothing, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Mary J Blige, The Chain Smokers, Cold Play, Ne-Yo, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Keysia Coke, Lloyd, Ciara, The-Dream, Keri Hilson, Kelly Rowland, and hundreds of other global icons.

Some of the accomplishments I am most proud of include my musical arrangements with Rihanna’ on her 777 world tour, diamonds world tour, Anti World Tour, Fenty Savage Amazon specials as well as the Rihanna and Eminem Monster tour.

I have worked alongside Music director Adam Blackstone on halftime performances and opening ceremonies of 11 NBA All-Star games. My arrangements and production have been heard on both Destiny’s Child’ and Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl halftime performances.

Some of my proudest work I have contributed to some of the most iconic Coachella performances of all time. I have programmed, arranged and composed live shows for Pharell Willams, Cardi B, Ella Mai, Eminem as well as contributed Sound Design for the Queen Bee herself Beyoncé and many more.

What sets me apart from others is how deep and far I will go to get to know the Artists I am developing. I spend countless hours talking and getting to know the many different layers of them. We exchange playlists and study topics of music history together. We take Artists through a course at www.findyourlight.today where we help artists develop and evolve their brand. I help artists separate themselves from being a fan of music and help them embody the Artist that they were born to be. I do not give artists I am producing beats. I write the music and songs we create from scratch and aim for a more Taylor made fit.

Currently, all of my focus is on my Artist Elle E.D. Together we are fighting to bring balance back to the world of Hip Hop. Our work can be found at www.Elleed.com.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I have had so many people that have came into my life and worked hard to uplift my career. To begin, I have to give credit to the R&B singer Lloyd. We met when he was a young kid when he was recording an album with his then group N-Toon. He introduced me to Joyce Irby from the band Klymax and this introduction led to my first 20 song placements.

My good friend Alvin Speights (R.I.P.) taught me the deeper level of mixing and how to create space in production. He allowed me to assist him on the TLC album Fan Mail and that earned me my first GRAMMY.

Kendu Isaacs, former husband of Mary J Blige, has believed in me for close to twenty years. Together we worked on over 7 Mary J Blige albums and dozens of world tours. We have performed our work together on every Award show worth mentioning from the GRAMMY’s, the MTV Awards, BET Awards, Billboard Awards. American Music Awards etc.

I have to give credit to Rhianna for not only trusting me with her sound, but also choosing me to create and expand her vision during so many monumental. I asked her “how she always knows how to pick her hit songs?” Her response was “I don’t. I find people like you that only know how to be great. The songs write themselves.”

More than anyone I always have to give credit to my biggest supporters. My wife Day’nah Evans, my daughters Skyler and Jordan. My best friends Mariam Frieg, Lalah Delia, my sisters Mo Lightner and Misha’el Ricks. My village of supporters Cassie Bradley, Dice Gambles, Big C, Fitz and everyone that shows up for me at my highest and lowest points. To my team 11:30, Luke Austin, DSTRK, Dj Themi, Elle E.D., Y2, S.L.M. (SheLoveMal), Josh Moreland, Br00klyn James, Brazy Luca, Ventage Frost I love and appreciate you all.

Pricing:

• Tickets to my 2023 Pre Grammy Tribute Party – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tribute-to-the-nominees-a-pre-grammy-celebration-hosted-by-teyana-taylor-tickets-493323673387
• Tickets to my 2023 Pre Grammy Celebration of Women in Music – https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=500342767687
• Elle E.D. Limited edition 12’ Vinyl Mixtape: Collage – https://buy.stripe.com/eVabLz7zb3whaha289
• Find your Light branding course – https://www.findyourlight.today/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://devineevans.com/
• Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/devineevans
• Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/devineevans
• Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/devineevans
• Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/Elleed
• Other: https://www.Elleed.com/

Image Credits:
All photos by KBM Photo Photo 1: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artist Elle E.D. Photo 2: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artist Brandy Photo 3: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artist Elle E.D. Photo 4: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artist Elle E.D. Photo 5: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artists Elle E.D. And Janet Jackson Photo 6: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artist Mary J. Blige Photo 7: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artist/actress Queen Latifah Photo 8: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artist Stevie Wonder Photo 9: Music Producer Devine Evans And recording artists Chloe and Halle Bailey