Interview: The Devlins

Photo by Danny Clinch

When brothers Colin Devlin and Peter Devlin founded the alternative rock band The Devlins in Dublin, they created a distinctively atmospheric, melodic sound that immediately earned them critical acclaim for their 1993 debut album, Drift. They gained even more attention as their songs were placed in high-profile soundtracks, such as “Waiting” in Six Feet Under, “World Outside” in The Sopranos, and “Crossing the River” in Batman Forever. After four albums together, though, the band went on hiatus, with Colin Devlin pursuing a successful solo career. But now, after almost a decade apart, the band have reunited (with their original lineup intact). On October 4, they’ll release their fifth album, All the Days, which is just as introspective and compelling as any of their earlier work. They’ll celebrate that release with a special show at Whelan’s in Dublin on October 24, and they’re also planning an international run of tour dates (details TBA soon). Calling from Pasadena, California, where he now lives, Colin Devlin tells The Big Takeover why it was the right time for The Devlins to return, how he became a songwriter and musician, and what he thinks of the legacy that he and his bandmates have created.

How did you know it was the right time to do an album with the band, as opposed to making another solo album?

COLIN DEVLIN: Number one, it’s something I wanted to do. And secondly, the songs I’d written felt more like band songs than solo songs. I think I wrote them differently in my head. Sometimes, I can see how this would really work with the guys when they collaborate on it and make it something special. And honestly, I really missed playing with the guys. We’re really good friends. So it’s kind of an emotional thing that we’re playing together, because we haven’t done it for so long. We really enjoy playing together. I love playing solo, as well, but I had just felt now that it was the right time for us to make a new record.

Did you notice any differences between now and the last time you did an album together?

COLIN DEVLIN: I think once you just start playing together, it’s the thing that you always had. It’s not that different, really. I think we probably appreciate each other more, because we appreciate that we’re able to do this. As you get older, life is short and who knows what can happen? There’s a really good energy about the record, too, I think. And making it in Dublin together, and being able to finish at the studio and go for a pint of Guinness together after we finished recording – it all adds up to hopefully something great.

Why did you pick “All the Days” as the album title?

COLIN DEVLIN: It’s really about time passing, and how much changed since we made the last record. Both our parents passed away in the last few years, and Mark [Murphy], our guitar player, his mother passed away last year. I guess a lot of songs are about that, time passing and loss – but also about hope and resilience and all of those things. It felt like the right title to me. And also, I loved the [“All the Days”] song, as well. I think it’s really strong.

How did you learn to write such evocative lyrics in the first place?

COLIN DEVLIN: I guess being from Ireland, there’s such a rich history, whether it’s poetry or lyrics or literature. I always just tried to put my own slant on it, my own worldview on what I see. Lyrics are obviously very important to me, to try and express emotion in as few words as possible. As you said, it’s evocative, and creates an atmosphere. I think I love the feeling when each song feels like its own little world. Like a beautiful painting, and you’re kind of lost in it. I think that’s true of great music, too. So I guess it’s kind of aspiring to that, where you’re creating a world for yourself in your own head, and then hopefully trying to translate that as best that you can through the song, and other people eventually decide whether it’s good or not.

You do seem to have a very loyal fan base. Why do you think your music resonates with people to that degree?

COLIN DEVLIN: Obviously, people feel connected to the songs. Maybe they have their own memories with the songs. They’re my songs, but they’re also everyone else’s songs, in a way. If they mean a lot to me, or to us as a band, you hope that other people feel the same emotions that you’re feeling, or connect them to their own lives. I’ve never tried to be too specific in the lyrics. So I think that, in that way, maybe people just can make them their own. I think that’s why people feel connected to the songs, and then, I guess, probably feel connected to us.

How did you know you should be a professional musician?

COLIN DEVLIN: It was just obvious. I used to write songs all the time in my head. I just presumed everybody did that. [But] I literally didn’t pick up the guitar until I was fifteen or sixteen. And then once I started, Peter was already playing in bands. He was in really cool mod bands and New Wave bands. He was playing bass in those. Then when I started writing songs, I think people started to gravitate towards that, and then he allowed me to play with his friends. He was three years older, so that was pretty cool for me to be able to play with the real musicians who were in college. I started to write songs, and I realized that people would say, “These are really good. These are different from what everyone else is doing.” Peter was all very positive in terms of feedback. So it just felt natural. It felt like something I was just good at. It was an amazing feeling to know that you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing.

What do you think as you look back on the legacy that you’ve created with this band?

COLIN DEVLIN: This is the first time that we’re looking back as well as looking forward. Like, when we were rehearsing for these [upcoming] shows, we were playing songs from a long time ago. It was the first time where I actually stood back and would go, “Wow, that’s a really good song!” I don’t mean to sound conceited. It was just, maybe for the first time, [I could] see what other people saw in the songs. That has never happened before. So yeah, we’re very proud. We’ve been very lucky, as well. I feel very privileged that we are still able to do it.