Deva Rani on Music and Meaning

When Deva Rani talks about music, there’s a spark. But what’s most captivating is her ability to articulate her creative process with honesty and warmth. “In terms of lyrics, I strive to be at Frank Ocean's level of lyricism. I typically use my own conversations with myself for inspiration,” she laughed. “My best lyrics have come from when I’m just sitting somewhere thinking about my situation, and the words just flow out of me.”

Deva Rani’s journey into music started at a tender age, four years old, to be exact. Her mother enrolled her in classical piano lessons, which, at the time, felt more like a chore than a passion. “I protested a lot,” she admitted with a smile. But as time passed, she started to appreciate the foundation it gave her. “I started noticing how fun it was to get really good at it. I treated it more like a sport.” That discipline and understanding of music became the foundation of her current production style. Even though classical piano wasn’t her first love, it laid the groundwork for her ability to improvise and experiment with different genres.

Her musical taste growing up was anything but one-dimensional. Thanks to her dad’s influence, she was exposed to everything from country and soul to funk. Her older sister introduced her to Alicia Keys, which she credits as a pivotal moment in her artistic journey. “Seeing someone who played the piano and wrote her own music was so inspiring to me,” Deva Rani recalled. “The culmination of all the different genres I was exposed to is something I carry with me every day, even if it’s really far in the back of my mind.”