Inspired #323 - Air Devi
Philadelphia based artist Air Devi has just released her lovely new single ‘Lint of a Masterpiece’ - a floating piece of delightful dream pop. She took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind her music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
My top three musical inspirations are Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex), Mitski, and Ravi Shankar. They are all innovators and deep thinkers who have written and played music that moves people. I am inspired by Poly Styrene for writing provocative and clever lyrics, being a woman of color in the early British punk scene, and having a powerful stage presence. I am inspired by Mitski for her incredible songwriting chops and encouragement of young artists. I am inspired by Ravi Shankar (and many, many other classical Indian musicians) for his dedication to music. The sheer amount of time he and other Indian classical musicians put into music is inspiring in itself– we're talking practicing sitar for 12 hours on a daily basis. You can really hear him striving for something in the music. I admire how he continued to experiment with music and different forms of expression throughout his life.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
Lagaan is my favorite movie of all time, which seems to rejuvenate and uplift me every time I see it. It's a Bollywood movie, but it's actually quite deep (it's about the anticolonial struggle for freedom, but also contains a love story, humor, a team you want to root for, cricket, etc... I highly recommend all 4 hours of it). It makes me want to rally my friends and take on the world. It also has an amazing soundtrack, which I have not been able to stop singing since the age of 5.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
Philadelphia! There is something about Philly, the way people hustle yet are still so full of warmth, the way they are there for one another. Philly has a rich musical history too- from John Coltrane, to the Dead Milkmen, to Japanese Breakfast, Philly has it all (well except for an Indian classical music scene, but I'm working on that...). There is so much beauty in Philly, you just have to look a bit harder than you would in a place like Paris, but it's rewarding.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
There are so many people that inspire me, but first and foremost is my mom. She has taught me the importance of taking pride in one's work– everything she takes on she embraces fully and does to the best of her ability. Although she is not a musician, she is an artist in her own right, and has always been supportive of my decision to pursue a life in music. I am inspired by the way she cares for others and the world, her conscientiousness, her confidence, her punk ethos, her open mindedness, her worldliness, her diligence, her pursuit of lifelong learning, and her zest for life. She has been such a positive influence, always pushing me to grow, and I feel so lucky that she is my mother.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
I was listening to a lot of Elliot Smith, Phoebe Bridgers, and Nikhil Banerjee around the time I wrote this track. I was also inspired by the life story of one of my friends and the changing of seasons.
How would you like to inspire people?
It's my hope that if my music is true, then people will feel moved by it. It would be amazing if my music could inspire someone to forgive another person, to follow their dreams, to look at something from a different perspective, or to find clarity.