Devon Sproule

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Devon Sproule
Hockhocking Festival, Nelsonville, OhioMay 19, 2007Image by Jonas Hart
Hockhocking Festival, Nelsonville, Ohio
May 19, 2007
Image by Jonas Hart
Background information
Birth name Devon Sproule
Born 1982
Origin Flag of CanadaFlag of the United States
Kingston, Ontario
Genre(s) Folk, Blues
Occupation(s) Vocalist, Guitarist, Musician
Years active 2000 - Present
Label(s) Waterbug Records
Associated acts Paul Curreri, Matt Curreri, Carsie Blanton

Devon Sproule (born 1982, in Kingston, Ontario) is a musician currently based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005.

Contents

[edit] History

Born to hippie parents on a commune in Kingston, Ontario, Sproule claims dual citizenship with both Canada and the United States. She spent her childhood on the 465-acre, 100-member Twin Oaks Community[1] 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:

". . growing up with 80+ adults (many of whom I was very close to and spent lots of one-on-one time with) creates a need for versatile communication. That's what I see in people who have lived at Twin Oaks -- a desire to communicate and a willingness to do it not only on their own terms, or in their own personal language, but in whatever manner will get the job done . . growing up in an income-free environment, the lack of money never bothers me much . . So yes, on the whole, I'm proud of my alternative upbringing."[2]

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.[3]

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 are both favorites at the Gravity Lounge in their hometown.

[edit] Recordings

She released her first album 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. Her latest album, Keep Your Silver Shined was released in March 2007.

Devon's 1954 Gibson ES-125Image by Timothy Caldwell
Devon's 1954 Gibson ES-125
Image by Timothy Caldwell

[edit] Style and sound

Sproule's music is best described as sharing elements of folk, country, and jazz, delivered in an affecting, personal style. As she says:

“ Of course, I love playing guitar -- especially now that my husband and friends have given me, for my birthday, the perfect addition to my collection: a 1954 Gibson ES-125. It's a jazz guitar and while I'm certainly not a jazz guitarist, I steal absolutely as much as I can from the genre![4] ”

[edit] Discography

  • Long Sleeve Story (2001) Three Word – ASIN: B00005QY5Z
  • Upstate Songs (2003) City Salvage – ASIN: B000CAGHY6
  • Keep Your Silver Shined (2007) Waterbug – ASIN: B000N69OV2

[edit] Distinctions and awards

Neighborhood TheaterCharlotte, North CarolinaAugust 20, 2006Image by Andy Ciordia
Neighborhood Theater
Charlotte, North Carolina
August 20, 2006
Image by Andy Ciordia
  • She was nominated in the Emerging Artist category of the third annual Folk Alliance awards show broadcast February 20, 2008 from Memphis, Tennessee (simulcast on XM).[5]
  • 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."[6] -- Best of C-Ville 2007.
  • She taught songwriting at the Third Annual NewSong Academy in August 2007 Shepherdstown, WV.[7]
  • 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."[8]
  • Her soon-to-be husband, singer-songwriter Paul Curreri dedicated his 2003 Songs for Devon Sproule CD (Tin Angel / City Salvage — ASIN: B0015HQGLE) to her.

[edit] Articles, reviews, interviews

[edit] References

  1. ^ "An Interview with Devon Sproule" by Bret Holmes Lucid Arts and Culture.
  2. ^ "The Lux Lotus Interview: Devon Sproule" by Laura Cerand, appearing April 27, 2006 in ART section Lux Lotus.
  3. ^ Official Website biography
  4. ^ "The Lux Lotus Interview: Devon Sproule" by Laura Cerand, appearing April 27, 2006 in ART section Lux Lotus.
  5. ^ "Ellen Jewell, Uncle Earl highlight Folk Alliance award nominees" News You Should Note posted February 4, 2008 No Depression.
  6. ^ "Best of C-Ville" 2007 C-Ville Weekly.
  7. ^ Third Annual NewSong Academy: Thur Aug 9 – Sat Aug 11 • 2007 // Shepherdstown, WV NewSong Festival.
  8. ^ "Our Critics Top Albums of 2003: Strokes, Shins and a whole lot of OutKast" posted Dec 31, 2003 Rolling Stone Magazine.

[edit] See also

Portal:Guitar

[edit] External links

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Folk music