“Soak Up The Light” by Canadian songwriter Devan Christodoulou (Wild Dove) is a riveting song about how sometimes we allow fear to rob us of the beautiful relationships and memories we can form if we let go and let love lead, not fear. It aptly captures the fear of being vulnerable and beautifully encourages us to let go of our fears and those things holding us back. So love can lead. We had the pleasure of interviewing Wild Dove (Devan Christodoulou), and here’s what he had to say:
Q: Did you have a clear direction/idea of how you wanted “Soak Up The Light” to sound before you started producing it and what effect were you hoping it would have on listeners?
WILD DOVE: “For Soak Up The Light,” producer Jonathan Anderson and I discussed what direction we should take on production. We wanted to capture a raw, intimate performance that also had some drive. I think we managed to capture the best of both worlds by allowing the song to take shape and evolve as the song progressed. By the end of the song, we’re in a full-on rock out. With Jonathan, it’s all about feel, whatever services the song. He did a great job of building tension with effects, and layers as my vocals got more intense. I hope the listeners feel what I’m trying to express.
Q: Can you describe what a typical studio session for this song was like?
WILD DOVE: I sat down with my acoustic, and performed the song live for Jonathan. He wanted to capture the same energy I had live in the production. A lot of what you hear is basically live off the floor. With some overdubs. Once we got a good performance of my acoustic and vocals, everything else followed.
Q: I see you were formerly part of an indie-folk band, Echo Nebraska. What influence do you think this has had on your musical style?
WILD DOVE: I’m not sure what the influence would be as far as a musical style. I enjoy writing in many different genres and have done so my entire musical career. I will say that my time with Echo Nebraska brought me a world of experience as far as touring, and collaborating musically. I felt pressure to write songs that pleased 4 or 5 other members of the band. This certainty helped me try to become a more prolific songwriter.
Q: What would you say has been the highlight of your musical journey so far?
WILD DOVE: Getting “Prove it” on Netflix’s “Love is Blind” was pretty awesome. But honestly, there is no specific moment. I enjoy the journey. Every time I have someone message me about how my song was the soundtrack of their family’s summer road trip, or how a song helped them get through depression, those are the real highlights.
Q: What are the three key aspects of your musical roadmap for 2023?
WILD DOVE: Release “Helicopter Leaves and Childhood Memories,” and perform live locally and in Western Canada. Push content on social media (Instagram, FB, and YouTube). I have a couple mastered songs ready to be released, and I’m deciding what to do with those. I also have been writing a lot and have a batch of songs that I’m very eager to take back into the studio.
Q: Do you have any parting words for your supporters?
WILD DOVE: Be kind to each other. Thank you for joining me on this musical journey.
Interviewed by Zoey King
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