Devon Sproule
Encyclopedia
Devon Sproule is a musician
based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia
. She married musician
and singer-songwriter
Paul Curreri
in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie
. She and her husband moved to Berlin, Germany in September of 2011.
parents on a commune
named Dandelion in Kingston, Ontario
, Sproule claims dual citizenship with both Canada
and the United States
. She spent her childhood on the 465 acres (1.9 km²), 100-member Twin Oaks Community founded in 1967 as an intentional community
and ecovillage
in Louisa County
, Virginia
. Asked about how the experience has affected her musical career, she said:
After moving between private, public and home schooling, she eventually left high school
, recorded her first record, and began touring nationally—all before the age of eighteen.
She is married to musician
Paul Curreri
and currently resides with him in Charlottesville, Virginia
. They often perform together locally, but also on tours across the United States
and United Kingdom
. They were both regular favorites at the now-defunct Gravity Lounge, a major platform for new talent in their hometown.
In September 2011 Sproule and Curreri moved to Berlin, Germany citing professional and economic reasons. "It felt like a good career move, to not just grow careers, but to make money, which is hard when you're going back and forth," says Sproule. "It's really fun to play over there where you can play the folk shows, but you can also play a little theater of 20-year-olds who are sitting on the floor and they're blogging about it the next day."
when she was 16. Her second album
, Long Sleeve Story was released in 2001 with praise from The Village Voice
. Upstate Songs, released in 2003, made it in Rolling Stone's Critics Top Albums of the year, followed by Keep Your Silver Shined in March 2007. ¡Don't Hurry for Heaven! was released in April 2009. Live in London was released in 2010.
]
, delivered in an affecting, personal style.
]
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. She married musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie
Oren Lavie
Oren Lavie is an Israeli singer, songwriter, playwright, and theatre director. His music video for "Her Morning Elegance" earned a 2009 Grammy Award nomination for "Best Short Form Music Video". On March 10, 2009, Oren released his debut album, The Opposite Side of the Sea, in the United States...
. She and her husband moved to Berlin, Germany in September of 2011.
History
Born to hippieHippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
parents on a commune
Commune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
named Dandelion in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, Sproule claims dual citizenship with both Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She spent her childhood on the 465 acres (1.9 km²), 100-member Twin Oaks Community founded in 1967 as an intentional community
Intentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
and ecovillage
Ecovillage
Ecovillages are intentional communities with the goal of becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. Some aim for a population of 50–150 individuals. Larger ecovillages of up to 2,000 individuals exist as networks of smaller subcommunities to create an ecovillage model that...
in Louisa County
Louisa County, Virginia
Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,153. The county seat is Louisa.- History :...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Asked about how the experience has affected her musical career, she said:
After moving between private, public and home schooling, she eventually left high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, recorded her first record, and began touring nationally—all before the age of eighteen.
She is married to musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri
Paul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
and currently resides with him in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. They often perform together locally, but also on tours across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. They were both regular favorites at the now-defunct Gravity Lounge, a major platform for new talent in their hometown.
In September 2011 Sproule and Curreri moved to Berlin, Germany citing professional and economic reasons. "It felt like a good career move, to not just grow careers, but to make money, which is hard when you're going back and forth," says Sproule. "It's really fun to play over there where you can play the folk shows, but you can also play a little theater of 20-year-olds who are sitting on the floor and they're blogging about it the next day."
Recordings
She released her first albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
when she was 16. Her second album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Long Sleeve Story was released in 2001 with praise from The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
. Upstate Songs, released in 2003, made it in Rolling Stone's Critics Top Albums of the year, followed by Keep Your Silver Shined in March 2007. ¡Don't Hurry for Heaven! was released in April 2009. Live in London was released in 2010.
Style and sound
Sproule's music shares elements of folk, country, and jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, delivered in an affecting, personal style.
Discography
- Devon (1999) Devon Records - ASIN: B00000JKPC
- Long Sleeve Story (2001) Three Word – ASIN: B00005QY5Z
- Upstate Songs (2003) City Salvage – ASIN: B000CAGHY6
- Keep Your Silver Shined (2007) Waterbug – ASIN: B000N69OV2
- Don't Hurry for Heaven (2009) Tin Angel records – ASIN: B00381BXVS
- Live in London (2010) Tin Angel records — ASIN: B003Y7U8VM
- I Love You, Go Easy (2011) Tin Angel records (Europe/UK release) — ASIN: B004RJZ9JW
Distinctions and awards
- She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy CahnSammy CahnSammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
Award for 2009 with Oren LavieOren LavieOren Lavie is an Israeli singer, songwriter, playwright, and theatre director. His music video for "Her Morning Elegance" earned a 2009 Grammy Award nomination for "Best Short Form Music Video". On March 10, 2009, Oren released his debut album, The Opposite Side of the Sea, in the United States...
. She joins previous winners such as: John MayerJohn MayerJohn Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
, Josh RitterJosh RitterJosh Ritter is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine.- Early life :Josh...
, Lori McKennaLori McKennaLori McKenna is an American folk singer/songwriter. She lives in Stoughton, Massachusetts with her husband and five children.-Early work:...
, Nicole AtkinsNicole AtkinsNicole Atkins is an American singer-songwriter. She has been compared to Roy Orbison and singers from the Brill Building era.-Early life:...
, and John FrancisJohn FrancisJohn Francis may refer to:*John Francis , English cricketer*John Francis , cricketer*John Francis , American environmentalist...
. - She was one of six 2008 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk winning songwriters picked from 32 finalists who performed during the 2008 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Concerts May 24 & 25.
- She was nominated in the Emerging Artist category of the third annual Folk Alliance awards show broadcast February 20, 2008 from Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, TennesseeMemphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
(simulcast on XM). - Best Solo Music Act "Sweet, breathy vocals; a fetching, gentle stage presence; local roots with a capital 'L'; talent that just won't quit. You love Belmont-based songstress Devon Sproule the best, but with the success of her second record, Keep Your Silver Shined (she calls it her "getting married" album), she sure does travel a lot, so keep your calendars shined for her next local gig." -- Best of C-Ville 2007.
- She taught songwriting at the Third Annual NewSong Academy in August 2007 Shepherdstown, WV.
- Upstate Songs (City Salvage Records) was included in Rolling Stone's Critics Top Albums of 2003. Julie Gerstein called the record, "perhaps the sweetest and most honest folk-pop album recorded this year," and added, "Sproule's vocal and lyrical beauty is unmatched."
- Her future husband, singer-songwriterSinger-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Paul CurreriPaul CurreriPaul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
dedicated his 2003 Songs for Devon Sproule CD (Tin Angel / City Salvage — ASIN: B0015HQGLE) to her.
Articles, reviews, interviews
- "Folk Couples, Covered: Sproule & Curreri, Schmidt & Elkin, and Ritter & Landes" Cover Lay Down June 27, 2010.
- "Buzz-Hooray! Devon Sproule’s ¡Hurry! a sensual feast" by Stephanie Garcia, April 29, 2010, in The Hook.
- "Paul Curreri And Devon Sproule: A Couple Of Solo Artists" interviewed by Liane Hansen, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, April 4, 2010.
- "Music Review: Devon Sproule - Don't Hurry For Heaven" by David Bowling, April 1, 2010 in BC* *blogcritics.
- "LATER...with Jools Holland (29/02/08 - Show 5)" Monday, 3 March 2008 on Underwurld Music.
- "'I'd always been the kid that sang': From strumming in a hippy commune to swinging with 1940s jazz, Devon Sproule has done it all - and she's only 25." interview with Nige Tassell, August 24, 2007, in The Guardian.
- "Devon Sproule: Easygoing Folk and a Splash of Jazz" by David Dye, July 24, 2007 World CafeWorld CafeWorld Cafe is a two-hour long, nationally syndicated music radio program that originates from WXPN, a non-commercial station licensed to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The program began in 1991 and was originally distributed by Public Radio...
, NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
. - "Devon Sproule: Back to Roots" by David Dye, June 4, 2007 World Cafe, NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
. - Devon Sproule in December 2007 Acoustic GuitarAcoustic Guitar (magazine)Acoustic Guitar is a monthly magazine published in the United States since July/August 1990 by String Letter Publishing. The magazine offers information related to acoustic guitars for players of all levels from beginners to teachers. Each issue includes a half dozen or so songs with notation and...
. - "Best of C-ville 2007" C-Ville Weekly.
- "The Lux Lotus Interview: Devon Sproule" by Laura Cerand, appearing April 27, 2006 in ART section Lux Lotus.
- "An Interview with Devon Sproule" by Bret Holmes Lucid Arts and Culture.
See also
- Paul CurreriPaul CurreriPaul Curreri, an American musician and songwriter who performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter/guitarist Devon Sproule in May 2005 and...
- Folk musicFolk musicFolk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
- Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
- Twin Oaks Community
- Kingston, OntarioKingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
- Singer-songwriterSinger-songwriterSinger-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
- Gibson ES-125Gibson ES-125The Gibson ES-125 is an archtop, hollow body electric guitar model that was produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.-Model history:Introduced in 1941 as the successor to the ES-100, the ES-125 was an entry-level archtop electric guitar. It had one P-90 single-coil pickup in the neck position,...
External links
- Official Website Devon Sproule.
- MySpace page Devon Sproule.
- Waterbug Records Devon Sproule recordings.
- Artist Direct Devon Sproule.