The path someone chooses to make music their career can be fascinating. For Frankfurt, Germany, resident (with previous stints in Boston and Nashville) Maryanna Devlin, it started with her brother’s death. He was a musician and as part of processing the grief she dove into music and discovered not only how cathartic it could be, but also the appeal of the creative independence it offered. Fast forward a few years and she’s about to release her debut album, A Great Many Things, on September 30th.
Although many of the songs on the record have a relatively straightforward folk song style, the production layers on a richness that emphasizes Devlin’s lush vocals. Taking inspiration from her earlier acting career, literary influences as diverse as Little House On the Prairie and The Slaughterhouse Five, and memorable moments in her own life, this is a very personal record.
Along those lines is one of my favorites songs on the album, Gary, Indiana. It recounts a trip with her father to see Boston College play Notre Dame in football. It began healing what had been a fractured relationship and you can hear the hope, along with some details of a roadtrip we can all identify. We’re pleased to be able to offer the premiere of the video for it, so enjoy a peek into Maryanna Devlin’s life, and Gary, Indiana.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.