“If a hook doesn’t rub my brain the right way quickly enough, I don’t use it,” says musician Devin Caldwell
Devin Caldwell is a singer, songwriter and producer who makes dance pop. He lives in New York. Here, he talks early musical influences, and why he isn’t a fan of people calling ADHD a superpower.
Did you have a musical childhood?
When I look back on it, yes, my childhood was fairly musical. I remember doing choir in elementary school and I continued singing in school throughout middle school and high school. My parents are also big music fans. Growing up, they would always drag my brother and me to jazz festivals.
What were your early musical influences?
My early musical influences were the mainstream pop songs I was hearing on the radio coming out of the late great Cheiron Studios in Sweden. Think Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and N’Sync. Other than that, I have to give credit to pop punk bands like Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, and All Time Low.
When did you decide to be a professional musician?
I decided to become a professional musician after being wrongfully terminated from my role as an operations manager at a small luxury furniture company. I decided I might as well focus on what I really love as I was finally starting to pick up traction in the industry.
How did you discover your neurodivergence?
I was first diagnosed with ADHD around 2014, but it wasn’t until 2021 with the mass adoption of TikTok that I really began to understand how profound ADHD actually is.
In what ways does your neurodivergence impact your creative process?
I think ADHD impacts my creative process very heavily. If a hook doesn’t rub my brain the right way quickly enough, I don’t use it. I think ADHD is the reason my music is very earworm-focused and catchy. I want the song to stay in your head even if you don’t like it at first.
Does it bring any challenges?
Yes, ADHD can bring a ton of challenges to creating music. Often, I will start a new composition and then abandon it after deciding to work on something else. It also makes me want to jump around the pop landscape often. Generally, my singles tend to have many different types of genre influences.
Do you have coping mechanism for work/home-life?
My best coping mechanism for work/home-life balance is to lean on your support systems, be it family or friends. Having someone help hold you accountable can be a fantastic tool for any creative medium.
What are your hopes and dreams, as a musician?
My dreams as a musician are to be able to work with more of my favourite artists. I have already been able to work with some of my idols like Stargate, Diane Warren and Felix Snow, but there are many more I’d kill to work with.
Any other comments on music/art/creativity/neurodivergence?
While I think having ADHD is wildly helpful when creating art, I am not a fan of people calling it a superpower. ADHD still creates extreme challenges in modern life and needs to be taken more seriously. Everyone doesn’t have “a little ADHD,” so when your friends and family with ADHD need to talk about their struggles, please listen and try to lend them compassion.
Listen to Devin on SoundCloud.
Follow Devin on Instagram, TikTok and X: @iamduexo
You can read more articles and interviews with neurodivergent creatives on We Hyperfocus Magazine.
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