DVNA
Hailing from Gold Coast, Australia, DVNA (pronounced “donna”) is an emerging star in alternative, neo-soul from her smooth vocals and clever lyricism to her polished and utterly flawless production. This one-woman-show has been releasing singles for the past couple years, with four out to date, and plans to release a full EP later this year. In this interview from April 28, DVNA talks about her newest release “Half Past Sober”, the new music she plans on releasing this year, and her set on a benefit live stream on YouTube.
Interview
Interview by Bridgette
July 8, 2020
Hey everyone, you’re listening to The Sound Between on WNYU. I’m your host Bridgette and I’m starting us off today by chatting with DVNA! Thank you so much for joining me all the way from Gold Coast, Australia!
Thank you so much for having me.
That track that you just heard was her song “Sushi in Tokyo.” So I’ve been a big fan of your music, your style, everything for a minute, and I understand it’s a one woman show, which I think is so cool. What goes into making a track for you? What’s your process like?
It’s always different and it kind of just depends on the mood I’m in that day. Sometimes I’ll jump into the studio and I’ll start with the beat first, I’ll get inspired by a song from one of my influences, or just on the radio and I’ll jump in there and try to replicate that. Otherwise, I will just sit down with the guitar and that’s if I’m feeling more of a sad girl mood and then I’ll just start with some chords and the lyrics will follow after that.
Awesome! So, I first read about your music on Ones To Watch, where they called you “super polished new age electro-soul music,” and I think that’s a super cool description. How would you personally describe your sound?
I think that pretty much sums it up.
Yeah, I thought that was pretty thorough.
Yeah, it is polished. The songs I have out now are quite sparkly and quite polished. But I do have other sides to me, you know, I’ve got more of a raw, stripped back, emotional side as well; that's where my guitar songs come in. And that’s where my song, “Half Past Sober,” which I’ve just released, sits in. It still sounds quite sparkly and polished but it's going more down that sort of direction.
Right, so perfect lead in: your new track “Half Past Sober” came out April 8th, and it is a little darker, more somber like you said. How was it different making this track and what does this song mean to you?
This one’s got a little more substance lyrically. My best friend was dating someone at the time and he was kind of toxic for her, and then I just went home and I wrote about it. This was about 2 years ago. And then everytime that I had played it live it was just raw and with my electric guitar, and so many people would come up after the show and they would be like, “That song, you need to release that song.” And so, it took me quite a bit to wrap my head around the fact that it's not like my other ones. But if people are going to come on my journey, they’re going to follow my music and they are going to like what I have to say and what I put out anyway, so I was super stoked that I got to put it out.
Awesome, yeah. So kind of in that unique, all-encompassing sound, who are some of your influences?
I have so many different influences. And, again, it just goes back to the mood that I’m in that day. But if I were to pick 3, I’d say Tom Misch— for sure, he is one of my favorites— Anderson .Paak, and actually I get inspiration from the pop world, as well. People like Halsey, and very early Katy Perry writing style; I loved how jovial she was and how clever and witty she was. So yeah, I get inspiration from different writers, or production-wise— like Tom Misch and stuff like that.
I totally hear that in your sound, that makes so much sense. I love that. So going off of that, who would be your dream collaboration?
Yeah, I think Tom Misch right now is who I would love to collaborate with.
Oh my gosh, can we make that happen because I would love to hear that! (Laughs) So you have four really dope tracks out right now: “Girl on the Move”, “Looking Like A Snack”, “Sushi in Tokyo”, and “Half Past Sober.” What’s next for you?
So next for me is another single I have coming out in about 2 months, and it's down that sort of neo-soul, sparkly vibe. And then after that I’ve got my EP coming out, which I’m still in the studio grinding, working on, and trying to perfect, even though it won’t be perfect, but you know (laughs).
I’m so excited! Well, I think a lot of NYU students are about to become big fans of you, which is great because you will be performing at the NYU Strawberry Stream on May 1, which is awesome.
I’m so excited!
Yeah! For some background for everybody, NYU’s 35th annual Strawberry Fest has gone virtual and will now be a YouTube live stream called Strawberry Stream on May 1, with programming happening around the world to raise money for the NYU Emergency Relief Fund! We’re really excited to have you performing in the Australia slot!
Yeah, so excited!
Thank you so much, it was such a pleasure getting to chat with you here today on WYNU. Thank you for joining me.
No worries, thank you for having me. And good luck with everything over there.
Thank you, you too! Well I can’t wait to see you on the stream but for now, next up, I’m going to play her track, “Girl on the Move.” Enjoy!
This interview originally aired on WNYU Radio with Bridgette Kontner on April 28, 2020 on The Sound Between at wnyu.org/archives/2020-04-28-the-sound-between