When DJ Harrison (a.k.a. Devonne Harris) was admitted to the hospital, he never anticipated being there for long, but a reaction to medication kept him stuck there for an extended period. All he could think of was the music he would make when he could leave. “When you have a health scare like I did, it gives you the urgency to really want to create, and not take it for granted,” Devonne says.
Devonne started work on his new album as soon as he got home. At first, he worked alone – but collaboration has always come as second nature, and soon he began thinking of the artists who’d help bring ElectroSoul to life.
He called upon musicians from his community and beyond to help create his most ambitious and healing album to date. Guests across the album’s 18 tracks include Pink Siifu, Yazmin Lacey, Fly Anakin, Angélica Garcia, Miguel-Atwood Ferguson, Kiefer, Nigel Hall, Grebes, and many of the album’s instrumentalists are from Devonne’s band Butcher Brown. ElectroSoul is out January 23rd.
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Following on from “Stay Ready” with Yaya Bey is a new double single. Side A, “Seek God”, features guest vocals from Devonne’s longtime collaborator, rapper and musician Fly Anakin. The video, filmed at Devonne’s home and studio Jellowstone – where he made most of ElectroSoul – sees Devonne and other album collaborators including Sound Genesius hang out together. “Recycled” on the B-side was one of the first songs he wrote for ElectroSoul and symbolizes the awakening of new energy after his time in hospital.
“NeverFold” is a mantra “not to fold” and “keep your shit together”. He wrote the song in 2024 after a serious health scare which led to an extended hospital stay. Upon arriving home, he went straight to his studio, Jellowstone, and started “NeverFold”.
DJ Harrison wanted to write a song that would give him encouragement through the tough times. It’s a reminder that no matter how bad things get, there will always be family, friends, and music waiting for him on the other side.
“There was a point where the power of writing and recording music was taken away from me,” he says. “When I got home from the hospital, I made so much music. I just wanted to get it out of my system. Being able to do that is a blessing.”
