Meet Trailblazer Devon Parker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devon Parker.

Devon, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, I’ve been performing and creating music with a deeply rooted passion and spirit since the ripe age of six. I loved musical theater as a kid. I sang and danced and auditioned for lead roles, memorized lines, and performed as one of the youngest actors at a local dinner theater in Fort Collins. It wasn’t until later in life after many profound life experiences that I decided to join a band.

My childhood was also spent surrounded by a family of musicians and music lovers. My daily life was steeped in Jazz, Motown and the Blues.

My father, a touring keyboard player, performed for many years under the Warner Brothers-Reprise label in an RnB band called The Pacesetters. And my Uncle Tony Klatka, is a well-known trumpeter and arranger for Blood, Sweat and Tears, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Wayne Cochran, and many others. My Grandpa on my mom’s side played the saxophone, and my Grandma’s large Catholic family in Ireland are all highly skilled traditional Irish musicians. My Grandpa on my Dad’s side also played the violin. So, it was in my deep ancestral roots to play music.

I began my professional music career fronting The Nu Classics, a funk Organ trio out of Fort Collins, who shared the stage with George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, Snarky Puppy, Victor Wooten, The Pimps of Joytime, The Motet and many others. We played mostly original music and hosted a weekly “Funk Jam” on Monday nights at Hodi’s Halfnote.

From 2009-2014, I performed as a guest singer with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe during their annual Halloween shows in Colorado, and had the opportunity to play at Bear Creek Festival covering The Rolling Stones album “Sticky Fingers” with Anders Osborne. One of the most profound musical moments of my life was singing “wild horses” to a crowd of 5 thousand people. I looked out at the front row of ladies singing along, they were all crying & I got off the stage and cried too! <3 It was an honor to be able to play with such incredible musicians.

I also toured as a guest vocalist with the West Coast Hip Hop innovator Del The Funky Homosapien (Deltron 3030, Gorillaz, Hieroglyphics). This was an amazing glimpse into the life of a real touring musician. Del had many super-fans that would crowd him for autographs and pictures. I often acted as a kind of “bodyguard” at times ushering him through crowds of intense fans who just wanted to reach out and connect with him. I also learned a lot about the logistics of a successful tour, and how things like co-branding and partnerships with different types of businesses can help support creative endeavors mutually.

I’m currently the frontwoman for the Colorado-based Funk band Analog Son, originally a brainchild studio project of Jordan Linit (Kinetix/Ableminds) and Josh Fairman (Sunsquabi). We’ve released four “Future Funk” albums 2 of which are available on vinyl! These albums feature over 40 different incredible musicians and collaborations too many to list. We’ve had the opportunity to play at such iconic venues as Red Rocks Amphitheater, the Ogden Theater, and done some touring out on the West Coast and Mid West. We have some music videos soon to be released and have recently joined the new label The Color Red. Over the last few years sharing the stage with the talented Ashley Niven has been such a blast. We’ve developed such a tight bond in performing music together, dancing, harmonizing together has added a huge element to the band’s delivery. It’s refreshing to work with another female artist who isn’t trying to one-up you or prove something, in working together you discover the richness in musical relationships.

I’ve written and recorded some original music with a variety of producers and players, one most notably being Berlin-based producer Jim Dunloop on the “Opus 76 BPM” album featuring MC Squair Blaq and other talented US-based artists. This album has been touted as a “truly genius musical composition of modern Hip Hop, Neo-Soul, and Jazz”. Which was released in Europe on BBE Records in the Winter of 2016.

Be on the lookout for my latest project FNTM PWR where you can find me stepping out of my comfort zone into a more performance art/innovative based creation of Electro-Pop-Soul music. I’m looking forward to developing a more visual art collaboration. Combining modern visual art, conceptual cinematic musical arrangements, dance, set design, and costumes to take the audience on a visceral sonic journey.

I’ve been very blessed to work with so many incredibly gifted talented musicians, and I can’t wait to see what exciting things are on the horizon.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a vocalist, I’ve found it challenging at times to be heard or to be taken seriously by other musicians especially my male counterparts. Often as a woman working in the music industry, it is already a “boys club”, so voicing an opinion, or suggestion falls on deaf ears. The condescending, sometimes belittling attitude some players fall into can be incredibly frustrating and discouraging. My best suggestion is to learn as much about your craft as possible. Learn the language needed to describe the music you want to play. Learn some basic music theory. And don’t be afraid to speak your mind.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
Through much practice and dedication, and a willingness to step out of my shell, I’ve developed an intimately honest voice. Drawing from profoundly deep difficult experiences in my youth, and through the roots of my musical relatives, I am now able to sing with a conviction, soul, and musicality I never thought possible. As I reach deeply into my own authenticity and honor my path, I’m able to deliver a sound that helps people connect. Whether it’s singing at a small dimly lit jazz club or in a large theater, the more one can express the wild emotional landscape of life through song, the more we can all experience the transformative power of music.

Which women have inspired you in your life?
There have been so many strong, vibrant, tireless, intelligent women in my life. My Mom is at the top of the list with her boundless sense of adventure, her ability to see art in everything, her deep sense of commonality we all share, and her ability to put all of her energy and passion into what she does. My Irish grandmother Nana was also an incredibly hard worker as a nurse for over 50 years and had a fabulous sense of humor. Although she was practically tone-deaf, she would still sing Irish lullabies and rhymes and dance an Irish jig, heart still half in the motherland. There are artists that I resonate with for their resiliency and ability to use music or art as a tool to heal the things they’ve experienced. People like Shiela E. Tina Turner Mercedes Sosa, Aretha Franklin and Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, Bjork, and Erykah Badu. Women who were not afraid to push their creative limits and express themselves fully. This is why music can be such a revolutionary tool. It gives voice to the ebb and flow of life, to the profound pain and joy, and tells a story that helps people find a common thread of experience.

Contact Info:

• Email: parker.devon@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fntmpwr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FNTMPWR/?modal=admin_todo_tour
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/devon.parker.music/

Image Credit:
Darren Mahuron, Charla Harvey, Lovemore Creations, Chromatic Mirage Photography, Jim Minma

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