R&B singer Devonte Riley celebrates new comeback single “Different” after an 8-year hiatus

R&B singer Devonte Riley is back with something fresh and different for the R&B airwaves. In 2015, Devonte Riley delighted us with his soulful voice, songwriting, and music production. Earlier this month, the Miami artist released his sophomore single, Different. Today I had the pleasure of connecting with him for a one-on-one interview.

Q: Devonte, thank you for allowing me to interview you! I want to start with your background. Could you tell everyone where you are from?
A: Thank you for having me! That is easy. I was born in Miami, Florida, and spent my early childhood there until my family and I relocated to Atlanta. My love for music blossomed from that point. I had already done some small projects, so my parents thought relocating to Atlanta would expand my career.

Q: Sounds like the ideal dream for many aspiring musicians! Tell me about your latest single, Different. What was the creative process like when you wrote and produced it?
A: Creating this song was the smoothest process ever. Everything came together naturally. I was awake around 3 to 4 AM. I aimlessly created this lush melody using only synths & pads in Logic Pro. Then came the strings, built around Afrobeat-inspired drums. Lyrically, everyone can relate to the subject matter, which is why the song follows a certain cadence. After an eight-year break, I am happy to have returned to my calling.

Q: I love the song! For the people who have never listened to it, would you mind telling them what the song is about?
A: Thank you! The song tells a story about a guy that thinks his girl is behaving strangely and not communicating with him anymore. He believes she might be seeing another guy and tries to get her to talk to him and feels like she has changed and is different from how she used to be.

Q: Thank you for breaking that down for us! The song is catchy. Could you tell us about your very long hiatus?
I went on an eight-year hiatus from music because, after my first project, I experienced an identity crisis. I would go into the studio, create music, and scrap great songs. Most of them had potential, and others I held on to. I lacked confidence in myself and my music. All I could think about was standing out from everyone else. I tried to get others to believe in my vision, which is where I went wrong. The other nail in the coffin was the hard drive failure I experienced shortly after. I lost everything! It took a while for me to bounce back. After learning about how the music market operated, I became frustrated even more.

Q: As a fellow artist, do you believe streaming affects record sales?
A: Oh yes! We live in a space where people stream and subscribe but never purchase. There is a big commitment issue in the world right now. People have trouble committing to relationships, bills, and even their favorite artists. *laugh* We do not commit to anything anymore. I also believe that creating music feels like a big competition. To the younger audiences, if you achieve a certain number of followers or streams, then you are relevant. Not so much the artists who work hard.

Q: Are you working on any new projects? Any follow-ups to Different?
A: I am always keeping busy. I have more singles on the way, so this will not be the last time you hear from me. My album will be out next year as well. We have a great selection of songs that will reach the surface soon enough. As for acting, I have some TV projects underway.

Stream and download “Different” below:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/different-single/1690764531
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3nK4pYCvsLNDAuAnmoaIFc
Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0C6XXDH28
Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/wOO1immxFAb
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/devonteriley/sets/different-single
Official Website: https://www.devonteriley.com