One of the perks of being a reporter for the SL Enquirer is that I get to hear some phenomenal musicians at the monthly SL Enquirer Singer Songwriter Open Mic competition. Some of the grid’s top performers have graced our musical stage since this contest started, and this month was no exception. Whether you are a budding Pavarotti, or you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, you are gonna love and be inspired by this month’s winner, Devon Reggiane. Immediately after his win, I managed to pry Devon away from his adoring fans just long enough to arrange for this interview. Let’s take a look at what this Musical prodigy had to say to our readers.
Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB): So Devon, congratulations on your
win. It was well deserved. Thanks for agreeing to chat with me. To begin with, how long have you been
performing your music, and what sorts of venues?
Devon Reggiane (DR):
Hi, Josh. Thanks so much for having me. I am pretty much the "new
guy" on the SL singing scene, because although I've been singing live in
RL for decades, I've only been singing in Second Life for around 10 months. I am very happy to sing anywhere where there's a crowd, as
it's the singing I love and not the L$, so I appear at a wide variety of venues
and events in Second Life. I genuinely love singing, and when the audience has a
great time, it makes it all worth it.
JB: Who were your music idols, and
those who most influenced your musical style?
DR: My favorite band has been Led Zeppelin
since I was a teen, but my main singing influences are Paul Rodgers, Freddie
Mercury, and Lowell George. Whilst Freddie Mercury has been incredibly
inspiring, Paul Rodgers and Lowell George have been direct influences with
their vocal-gymnastics/riffs and bluesy/soulful singing style which they so
flawlessly integrated into their sound.
DR: I was asked to
sing two songs, so I thought it best if I sang something soft and something a
little more upbeat in an attempt to showcase my versatility, so I went with
Eric Clapton's, "Tears in Heaven" and Train's, "Drops of
Jupiter". It wasn't until after my performance that I realized that both
songs were written for the loss of a loved one. Most of us have experienced the loss of a loved one and the bereavement that goes with it, including myself, so
I can only wonder if I subconsciously chose those songs with purpose.
JB: How would
you describe the brand that you now represent? To really stand out in the SL
Music scene, you have to have something special about your performances. How do
you define your music style?
DR: At my shows, I pretty much present my RL self; playful and friendly, but I am confident my love of music is always evident. I start my shows with 5 songs back-to-back and then for the rest of the show, it's batches of 2-3 songs back-to-back, so I keep the dead air and talking to a minimum and the result is that I provide 53-55 minutes of music in a 1-hour set. My goal at each and every show is to provide a variety of quality music and to have a few laughs along the way.
JB: What are
your landmark performances? Best
Memories performing both in RL and in SL?
DR: I was
fortunate to have been asked to perform twice at SL22B this year which was a
real honor as a new and not very well-established singer in SL, and I was well
received by the large audiences that had never heard of me, which was a real
pleasure that I am very grateful for. I have also performed at several RFL
events which are always well attended. In RL, I have toured USA and Europe
multiple times with various acts and artists. I have been blessed in the sense
that I have also been able to perform live with some of my musical heroes to
massive audiences, which, of course, is a dream come true to any musician.
JB: How did you
take the news when they first announced your name as the winner?
DR: I always love hearing live singers in SL, no matter what their style or ability, and the same can be said of this contest, as there were some incredibly skilled singers taking part. One of the singers that took part is a very well-established SL singer with a massive group of followers, and I really didn't think I had a chance. I was incredibly flattered and a little shocked when I learned that I'd won it, as I'd had no expectation of winning. Again, there was some fantastic talent on display that earned a new fan in me.
JB: What does
it take to be a successful musician these days?
DR: As it's always
been, achieving success in the music industry requires a genuine talent (you
can't fake it!) hard work, persistence, and fairly thick skin to handle
rejection, as no matter how good you are, not every venue owner or record
company will be moved by your talents. The music industry has changed so much
in the past 25 years, but the constant is that if you want to be a successful
live singer, you have to be out and about singing live, as it's not something
you are likely to achieve online. There was a time when musicians could make a
decent living from royalties and residuals, but nowadays it's all about touring
and merchandise, so one would have to accept this going in.
JB: You’ve been
on the grid for over 17 years now. What advice could you give to someone who
wants to be a songwriter?
DR: Yes, I turned
18 in SL this month, and I have seen some intensive changes over the years, both
in policy and technology.
To be a successful songwriter, first and foremost, is to know how to construct a song that is radio-friendly and a not too short or long catchy tune with a hook that people can tap their foot to and hum later. The advent of AI has produced an army of people with no musical talent whatsoever, that believe they are creating music... They aren't. The only way AI will make gains in the music industry, is if people don't reject it. My hope for the near and distant future is that people accept that real music is created from the hearts and souls of humans.
JB: Do you have
any social media sites that folks can visit to see more of you and your work?
DR: I don't maintain a page on traditional social media sites, but I do have a SoundCloud page at soundcloud.com/devonreggiane, and I have my own radio station where you can hear me sing 24/7 at tinyurl.com/RadioDevon
JB: Do you post
your performance schedule for anyone who wants to catch one or more of your
gigs?
DR: Yes, if anyone would like to come catch a show sometime, I would love to see you. A full calendar of my shows can be viewed at tinyurl.com/DevonShows
JB: Is there
anything else you would like to share with our SL Enquirer Readers?
DR: I am the
creator behind the SL car company, CRMC. I also own a roadside café called,
'Cats, Books and Coffee' as well as a small Latin club on the water called,
'Hablando Dey Rey De Roma'. These places can be found in the picks of my
profile.
There is so much live music occurring around the clock in
Second Life, so you really have no excuse! Whatever your favorite genre is,
there's someone out there on the grid singing it well and at pro-level.
Sometimes you will attend a show and you'll discover that the act that precedes
or follows the act you went to see, is something that hits you in the right
place and you become an instant fan. A lot of people think we are simply
karaoke singers, but standing and singing for an hour, whilst keeping the attention
of a group of people that have a million other things they could be doing in
SL, is really no different to performing on a stage in RL to thousands of
people. If you've never been to a live show in SL before, have a look in events
as there are plenty.
JB: So then. There you have it, Folks. Devon has performed on stages around the
world….and you can catch one of his shows right from the comfort of your own
SL. Next time you are looking to hear
some talented, versatile Live Music….check this guy out. And when you do, tell ‘m Josh sent ya. You’ll be glad you did.
Be there! Aloha!!
JB
Posts
