Today we’d like to introduce you to Devin Barrus
Hi Devin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started getting into music early in my youth. In Jr High I started a band with some friends to play at a talent show and my passion for writing and performing started there and continued now into my 30’s. I had been in a handful of local Utah bands throughout my 20’s and joined Sunsleep in 2016 which was originally a Dallas TX based band that found out about me through a YouTube audition for a super group I was in briefly called “In Motive” (Sumerian Record Label). Sunsleep aligned more with my stylistic tastes and I started writing and touring as the official singer/frontman in 2017 following our debut EP “I Hope To See Again With Brand New Eyes”. At that time Sunsleep was signed to a small LA based label “Manifest”. We recorded the first EP with acclaimed rock producer Erik Ron (Too Close To Touch, SLAVES, Issues) as well as a handful of singles released afterwards New Sensations, Dead, and White Tiger. Working with Erik really shaped the projects early R&B meets Post-hardcore sound. We did a handful of tours leading up to the pandemic but ultimately the Sunsleep slowed down during those years with uncertainty of what was to come. In 2020 I kept things moving forward constantly working on new material which ultimately lead to Sunsleep resigning to a new label “SBG”. Things were quite different however with the dynamic of the original lineup and following releasing Sunsleep’s first full length album Moonlight Euphoria in 2023 the dallas based members left the band. I toured on Moonlight Euphoria at the end of 2023 across the states with fill in players and took full control of the project as its sole artist in early 2024. Following the release of Moonlight Euphoria I have released a handful of singles this year including “Deadweight” a cover of the alt classic “Everybody Wants To Rule World” and new single “Animal” releasing August 23rd! These are my first independent releases as Sunsleep and am very excited to take the project in a slightly Alt/Pop direction while also retaining some of our roots in tact. Sunsleep will be playing our first locally based show this year at Soundwell in Salt Lake City August 28th with a new lineup of utah based players. I plan on releasing a new album in 2025 and have been working on the songwriting and production of this album all year!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. There have been many struggles and obstacles along the way in my journey and career as a musician. One of the hardest things I faced in this industry is retaining momentum while working other members of bands. Bands are like a marriage in a way and often start out in a “honeymoon phase” where everybody is motivated and working hard but after the years begin to fade and relationships crumble, often people lose sight of why they got into this in the first place and stop contributing or pulling their weight equally. In the modern age of this industry things have gotten so competitive and you can’t just show up and play an instrument and expect it to turn into a career. There’s so much more you have to be dedicated to truly be successful as an artist. Engaging social media, working on content, writing, and producing songs, and buttoning down the live aspect and production of shows and touring just to name a few. It’s very hard to find people that have longevity and the skill sets to contribute towards a business as a whole. To put bluntly, especially in the Sunsleep situation things just weren’t fair for a very long time in this regard. Especially when you’re splitting everything equal ways with equal business owners.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve always been driven by creativity. That magical moment of creating something out of nothing. Pulling an idea out of your head and bringing it into reality. Music has always felt like that to me and my never ending obsession with that dynamic has kept me inspired for over a decade. I enjoy being in the studio producing and writing music. Outside of my venture, as an artist, I have created a living for myself as a songwriter and producer. I have worked in Logic Pro for the last decade and I feel like at this point it is my primary medium for what I do best. Even the tedious aspects of audio engineering is something that I enjoy so much. There is not a day that goes by where I’m not working on a project in some shape or form, recording, guitars, editing vocals, tapping out drum parts on my midi keyboard. I’m in love with every aspect of the process and am constantly inspired to create new songs. If I had to choose one aspect, that is my favorite it’s definitely overall songwriting and topline melody. Crafting infectious hooks that really tie a song together is probably my biggest talent.
What’s next?
I’m really excited to continue forward the discography of my body of work. There’s a lot that I have yet to reveal in this next chapter for Sunsleep. I am more excited for than ever. Tirelessly working on new songs and creating a hefty catalog of material to filter into an album is one of my favorite art forms. I’m really excited to get back out on the road and tour again and do it in a much healthier way than before. You learn a lot over the years and touring is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever experienced, but is also one of the most rewarding. I really am excited to unravel this next album and hopefully find more opportunities to play out to my fans while continually upping the production value of the Sunsleep live experience. I am also very excited to continue my work as a producer and songwriter. I love collaboration and working with other artists to help bring their ideas to life is one of my favorite things in this world. Seeking new work opportunities to develop an artists sound and further my craft as a producer and engineer
Pricing:
- In Studio Rate $75 hourly
- Mixing and Mastering $350 – 650 a song
- Full Project Rate $1200
- Vocal Engineering $75 Hourly
- Vocal Feature $400 – 550
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.revelrecordingstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunsleepdevin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunsleepband
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sunsleepband
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sunsleep
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vungj589HhKBF2LldLXf4?si=uFywQqHpTX-T0ygnw7e1Dw
