Dev Lemons Will Become the Next Big Thing

The last time I discovered an artist whose entire discography I enjoyed was over ten years ago. Artists I listened to then didn’t carry over that same grit and unique sense of expression into their later work. They became predictable, to say the least. And as my taste in music evolved, a majority of those artists did not make the cut. It was a few years back when I thought to myself that I hadn’t been that into a musical artist since high school. This all changed when I started listening to Dev Lemons.

Known for her eccentric short-form videos, Dev Lemons has somehow perfectly transfused her unconventional video tactics to her witty, haunting, and sometimes tear-jerking lyricism and production. Her debut album, Surface Tension, emotionally thrashes you around, having you feel like a new person by the time you finish it.

I had the honor of attending the first night of her Surface Tension Tour. The packed Cafe Du Nord San Francisco venue was alight with fans of all ages. As the theme of the night was “swag night,” a sprinkle of concert goers adorned their shutter shades, trucker hats, and oversized 2010s graphic tees. Dev Lemons herself ran onto the stage in similar attire. She did not stay in this outfit the entire show, and instead changed into a black T-shirt and jeans after the third song.

The crowd hung onto her every word and motion. When she’d jump in excitement, they’d follow suit. If she screamed, they screamed. Towards the end of the show, when she asked the crowd to open the pit, they obliged with some confusion. The front row gifted the artist a squishy toy and a handmade plush creature, which sat on the back speaker the rest of the night.

Dev Lemons holding an hand made creature on stage

Dev Lemons has a series online where she produces covers completely blind, hoping that they turn out like the original song. For our encore that night, she shared her rendition of “Apple” by Charli XCX. It almost sounded like the original. As she herself hadn’t listened to it after completing the cover, Dev was left stunned on stage listening to her creation.

This was the most fun I’d had in a concert in a while. Hearing “Nothing Changes” live was a moment I’ve replayed in my head since leaving the venue. I’m excited to see where Dev Lemons’ music takes her and hope she gets the recognition she deserves.