Young Devyn

By: Makyala O’Connor

Known for her Soca music background, Narrow Magazine was invited to speak with Brooklyn-based hip hop and R&B artist, Young Devyn, about her journey with music and her upcoming EP Baby Goat. 

Young Devyn was born and raised in Brooklyn by Trinidadian parents. She got into the music industry at just 8-years-old when she started recording and writing Soca Music.

Eventually, this young star was touring and selling out shows with well-known musicians like, Bunji Garlin and Machel Montano. Devyn says she still keeps in touch with Machel Montano who has helped her pay attention to her sound on the stage and also prays with her on the phone. 

Her Trinidad background represents everything she does in her music and as an artist.

 “It affects my flow and the way I say things in my music. In some parts of my songs, you can hear my twang come out, it is a big part of my music,” Young Devyn said. 

Now, 19-years-old, she has been in the industry for 11 years and still says she takes it day by day with everything she does. It is hard being so young in such a tough industry, but Devyn opened up to us about how she maintained her mental health.

“I started going to therapy once I got in the industry at 8-years-old to now 19-years-old. You just got to find those times when you can lock in and listen to yourself and your body. If your mental health isn’t’ good everything else is going to fall out of place.” 

Being so young and so successful is an inspiration. She has done and continues to do what so many people dream of doing. With her newest EP, Baby Goat releasing June 18th, 2021 is a big year for her. 

“I didn’t expect my year to be this great and it is only June. This is only the beginning for me. I want my EP to go great and people to love it and entertain it. I’ve always been told you’re supposed to let god unfold your story and that is what I follow.” 

When listening to Young Devyn you can notice that, although she is a hip hop and R&B artist, she doesn’t use profanity in any of her songs. She told us that there were two reasons for this. One is that she started writing music very young and you can’t put profanity in your music at 8- years- old. The second reason is that when she was so young her grandma always gave her books to read because she was loved reading. Once her Grandma didn’t have any more books for her to read, she told Devyn to read the dictionary and she ended up learning so much more vocabulary. 

“I feel like curse words are just filler words, but I know so much more vocab than that, that I don’t need them,” Devyn said. 

Devyn isn’t your typical artist, but rather says her music is the kind you can play with your friends while riding around the streets but also can play it in front of your mother. 

Throughout her music she infuses both rap and Soca with Caribbean beats and different twangs. Her songs are all about what she experiences but also what she thinks other people have experienced and want to hear. 

“I want people to be able to relate and understand what I am saying.” 

She says Baby Goat is a real versatile project.

 “I like to call it microwave music. You can get it fast, digest it faster and then you need more of it.” Her project is one you don’t need to step outside of. If you’re looking for a love song, it’s there, if you’re looking for a hype song, it’s also there. There is so many different styles and types of songs you don’t have to jump to another artist if you need something else.

Her whole project is all about being unapologetic in you.

 “I was very assertive with what I wanted and how I was going to do it. My team knows I’m very open to direction but also know I am never willing to lose myself.” 

Baby Goat releases Friday, June 18th and you can find it on all streaming platforms.