Soulful singer Devon Gilfillian recently released “Unchained” off his upcoming debut album, Black Hole Rainbow. Originally inspired by the story of African-American pro football player, Brian Banks, who was wrongly accused of rape, “Unchained” is a powerful song that Devon says has evolved much more from its origin. “It’s an anthem for anyone that has been set back by unfair/unjust challenges in their life. It’s a song about empowering yourself to become your greatest potential no matter what tries to stand in your way,” Devon explains.
“Unchained” is surely a motivational song that makes you want to press on no matter the level of your goal or hardships. Give it a listen for an extra push today!
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Capitol Records will release Devon Gilfillian’s debut album, Black Hole Rainbow, on January 10, 2020. Today, Gilfillian shared his new single, the rhythmic “Unchained.”
“‘Unchained’ was originally inspired by the story of Brian Banks, an African-American professional football player wrongly accused of rape, but it’s evolved into so much more than just that,” explains Devon Gilfillian. “It’s an anthem for anyone that has been set back by unfair/unjust challenges in their life. It’s a song about empowering yourself to become your greatest potential no matter what tries to stand in your way.”
Gilfillian will join Grace Potter on her 2020 tour, which kicks off on January 8 at the Charleston Music Hall in Charleston, SC. The North American run includes a February 1 show at New York City’s Beacon Theater and a February 19 concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. See below for the itinerary. Tickets are on sale HERE. Gilfillian’s tour with Michael Franti & Spearhead wraps up tomorrow, November 8, at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD.
Black Hole Rainbow is now available for pre-order HERE. Fans who pre-order the album in digital format will instantly receive “Unchained” plus “Even Though It Hurts” and the top 15 AAA hit “Get Out And Get It.”
Rolling Stone hailed Gilfillian as “one of the most exciting young artists in Nashville’s burgeoning soul scene.” NPR Music said, “Gilfillian channels his inner Curtis Mayfield…‘Get Out And Get It’ has a heavy dose of infectious and captivating energy, and will move you with a spirit of optimism and empowerment.” Billboard called the single “pure magic.” View the video for “Get Out And Get It,” which Gilfillian shot in Johannesburg, South Africa, HERE.
Black Hole Rainbow was produced by 5x GRAMMY® winner Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War On Drugs, Julian Casablancas). At its core, it’s a hip-shaking album about love, on multiple levels.
“The theme of the record is pulling yourself out of a dark place and learning how to love yourself, and getting back up and learning from your mistakes,” Devon Gilfillian says. “It’s about falling in love, falling out of love, and then learning how to love yourself; picking yourself up and really figuring out what matters in your life, and to never stop hustling.”
Admiring Everett’s ability to take organic tones into another dimension and to build a sense of futurism into a vintage rock and roll sound, Gilfillian’s goal was to add a similar sensibility into his own soulful songs and to take his psychedelic rock and soul chops plus his love of retro- sampling, modern beat composition into a new context. So the duo – along with Gilfillian’s backing band – recorded the songs on tape at Electro-Vox Studios in Los Angeles, using a wide variety of vintage gear, analog boards and everything-including-the-kitchen-sink methods to capture specific sounds, and then pressed the tracks on vinyl. Everett uploaded those recordings into ProTools as samples he could manipulate them in a modern environment. The resulting album, Black Hole Rainbow, is a daring collision of eras, styles and genres.’
Gilfillian grew up outside of Philadelphia. His father – who is also a singer and contributes background vocals on the album closer, “Stranger” – introduced him to the music of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding and The Temptations. The beats and rhymes made by icons of his own era – Wu-Tang Clan, Kanye West, Notorious B.I.G., and JAY Z – also made a deep impression on Gilfillian.
After moving to Nashville to pursue music full-time, Gilfillian released his debut EP in 2016, which NPR Music said, “[set] the stage for what promises to be a brilliant career.” His 2018 single, “Troublemaker,” was heard during 2018 NFL Draft programming/advertising. He was featured in the Frye Americana Roots campaign and named as a Southwest Airlines “Artist on the Rise,” Gilfillian spent the summer of 2019 playing festivals – including Newport Folk and Montreal Jazz – and supporting Local Natives, Michael McDonald, Chaka Kahn and Lauren Daigle. He has also opened for such artists as Mavis Staples, Keith Urban, Gladys Knight, Brothers Osborne and KALEO.
Track Listing – Black Hole Rainbow
Unchained
Get Out And Get It
The Good Life
Lonely
Thank Me Later
Start It Up
Stay A Little Longer
Even Though It Hurts
Black Hole Interlude
Find A Light
Full Disclosure
Stranger
Devon Gilfillian – North American Tour Dates
2020 – Supporting Grace Potter
1/8 | Charleston, SC | Charleston Music Hall
1/9 | St. Petersburg, FL | Jannus Live
1/10 | Orlando, FL | House of Blues
1/11 | Ft Lauderdale, FL | Revolution Live
1/12 | Key West, FL | Sunset Grove Lawn
1/15 | Jacksonville, FL | Florida Theatre
1/16 | Raleigh, NC | The Ritz
1/17 | Charlotte, NC | The Fillmore
1/18 | Atlanta, GA | The Tabernacle
1/19 | Asheville, NC | The Orange Peel
1/22 | Cincinnati, OH | Taft Theatre
1/23 | Pittsburgh, PA | Roxian Theatre
1/24 | Philadelphia, PA | The Fillmore
1/25 | Washington, DC | The Anthem
1/28 | New Haven, CT | College Street Music Hall
1/29 | Portland, ME | State Theater
1/30 | Albany, NY | The Egg
1/31 | Boston, MA | House of Blues
2/1 | New York, NY | Beacon Theater
2/4 | Indianapolis, IN | Vogue
2/5 | Grand Rapids, MI | The Intersection
2/6 | Milwaukee, WI | Pabst Theater
2/7 | Chicago, IL | Riviera Theatre
2/8 | St. Paul, MN | Palace Theatre
2/9 | Des Moines, IA | Hoyt Sherman Place
2/12 | Tulsa, OK | Cain’s Ballroom
2/13 | Oklahoma City, OK | The Jones Assembly
2/14 | Houston, TX | House of Blues
2/15 | Austin, TX | ACL Live at the Moody Theater
2/18 | Birmingham, AL | Iron City
2/19 | Nashville, TN | Ryman Auditorium
2/20 | St. Louis, MO | The Pageant
2019
11/7 | Montclair, NJ | Wellmont Theater with Michael Franti & Spearhead
11/8 | Silver Spring, MD | The Fillmore Silver Spring with Michael Franti & Spearhead
11/9 | Dallas, TX | The Rustic with Grace Potter
11/17 | Nashville, TN | 3rd & Lindsley – Nashville Sunday Night Live – headline show
12/16 | Austin, TX | ACL Live at the Moody Theater with KALEO
12/31 | Port Chester, NY | The Capitol Theatre with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Sandy Lo is an author, blogger, journalist, and digital strategist. Her personal story is inspiring. Sandy started StarShine Magazine, an online publication in 2001, at the age of 18. She wrote her first novel in 2009, “Lost In You,” followed by the “Dream Catchers” Series. She was the first person ever to professionally interview Taylor Swift and has received personal endorsements for her books from members of boy bands Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees.
