Devon James unveils debut album, ‘Love Reach’

Devon James, the DJ and producer behind the Rvdiovctive event series, has announced details of his debut artist album, Love Reach.
The album, which blends ‘catchy disco hooks, self-assured indie dance grooves, and swinging house rhythms’, according to a press release, follows on from Rvdiovctive recently celebrating its tenth anniversary. More details can be found here.
“My intention [with the album] is to just say something different—nothing any better, nothing any worse. I just want to bring the conversation somewhere else,”James says of the album. “It’s the same philosophy we’ve had with and wanting to put on different artists.
“It’s something very important to me in general: not doing the same thing that other people are doing, but pushing things forward or outward in a different direction.”
James grew up in a musical household – his grandfather was a celebrated tuba player in nationally recognised Dixie Jazz bands, and his father is the keyboardist and manager of Jamaican ska legends The Skatalites. Indeed, his father performs on several of the tracks on the album, including the piano riff, Brighter Day.
Elsewhere, among his collaborators on the album is legendary reggae artist and producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, who passed away in 2021 – he features on the track Love Reach.
“Making this album definitely taught me to be much more confident with myself and what my visions are; that I do have something of value to add,” James commented. “You don’t need any one person’s love, and you don’t need a major label to have self-worth and value. Because I am a person, I’m living, and I have ideas, those ideas are worthy. We as people are worthy of love, and just because one person says no to our art or our love, that doesn’t mean no one cares and no one understands us.”
Devon James – Love Reach is released on 19 April.