We sat down with up-and-coming 17-year-old country rapper, Lil Devilish for an exclusive interview. He was gracious enough to take the time to answer some of our questions…
Lil Devilish is a very unique name. Were there any other names you considered/used prior? How did you come up with this one?
You’re right, Lil Devilish is quite the moniker. Well my Mama always used to call me her little devil. So Lil Devil is something I’ve heard my entire life. But before settling on this name, I played around with a few others, experimenting with different aliases that captured my musical essence. But Lil Devilish just felt right. It’s a name that reflects the mix of playful irreverence and a bit of an edge that I bring to my music. It’s all about being authentic and unapologetically myself. So, you can say it’s a name that found me, and I’ve been rocking it ever since
You are from California. How did your location influence your music? Is there a thriving music scene in your area?
Well I live in Central California, nowhere near any burgeoning metropolises. It’s not like I’m in LA or Oakland or San Fran. I grew up in a small town where you’d hear country music playing from pickup trucks one moment and hip-hop beats thumping from some lowrider another. It was this fusion of cultures and sounds that just resonated with me. I was drawn to the storytelling of country and the bumping beats of hip-hop, and it just made sense to blend them together. So I really drew inspiration from my Spotify playlist first and foremost – hearing Lil Nas, Yelawolf, and Jelly Roll was just powerful. I saw what they saw, the power in uniting two worlds that on the surface seemed different but, at their core, shared a deep connection in storytelling and raw, emotion, unfiltered. Y’know it’s my way of paying homage to my roots.
You’re only 17 years old. What are your aspirations/plans/goals as a young, up and coming artist? Have you set any deadlines for reaching these goals?
Well, you know, I’m just at the beginning of this incredible journey. My aspirations are high, and I’m motivated to take this music as far as it can go. Right now, I’m balancing finishing high school and the desire to dive into college while pursuing my passion for music. It’s a bit of a tightrope walk, but I believe that education is crucial, and I want to give my all to both worlds. I’m looking forward to college where I can not only expand my knowledge but also work on my music in a new setting. I haven’t set specific deadlines, but I’m all about setting milestones. My goal is to keep creating, improving, and sharing my music with the world. I want to touch people’s lives with my songs, and if it takes me a bit longer to reach certain milestones, so be it. It’s about the journey as much as it is about the destination.
You come from a large family. How have they helped/influenced you as an artist? Are there any other musicians/artists in your family?
My family has played a huge role in my journey as an artist. I come from a big, close-knit family – I’ve got 8 brothers and sisters! And their support has been invaluable. They’ve been my biggest cheerleaders from day one. Being part of a large family means there’s always something going on, whether it’s a family gathering or just hanging out with my siblings. These experiences have heavily influenced my storytelling and how I relate to my audience. I’ve learned the importance of connecting with people on a personal level through my music. As for other musicians in the family, well, my younger brother’s got a knack for playing the guitar. He’s got that natural talent that’s hard to miss. Who knows, maybe we’ll collaborate someday. But for now, they’re my foundation, my inspiration, and my biggest source of encouragement.
Why country rap? Do you have any new releases coming out you want to tell us about?
Country rap is like my musical soul – it embodies the blend of my rural upbringing with the diverse influences I’ve been exposed to. It’s a genre that allows me to tell my stories truthfully, and I find that incredibly liberating. Now, as for new releases, I’ve got something special coming up – about to hit in the next couple weeks. My next song, ‘Wish Kid,’ is a heartstring-pulling narrative about a young soul with a terminal illness, and it’s a bit remiss about all the life events he’ll never get to experience. The unique twist is that the narrator never reveals the truth of his condition to the audience. It’s a deeply emotional track that explores themes of hope, longing, and the bittersweet beauty of dreams. I can’t wait to share it with everyone, and I hope it resonates with the listeners as much as it does with me.