Meet Devan Skaggs | Music Producer and Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Devan Skaggs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Devan, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
An empty cup can’t fill another. Life lived fills my cup and makes my work better. At the very least it makes the work more gratifying.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve had a long and winding road to be doing what I am today. I was raised in a remote place so I always felt behind everyone as I was coming into the real world at 18 years old. I got to travel and do some amazing things in my 20’s that were getting close to what I wanted to do. What I always wanted more than anything was to produce records but even in the early 2000’s people weren’t making real records from home yet and going the commercial studio route just wasn’t for me for a few reasons, not the least of which being money. Tech had to catch up a bit first for me to do what I do today. It worked out though because while music tech was advancing I was getting sober and getting my mental health in order. The work I get to do today is a dream. I produce most of my wife’s work, the enormously talented, Victoria Bigelow. I’ve just done my first short film and released an instrumental album. I’ve got new music coming out all the time. I’m always trying to flex new muscles.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First things first, we’d head for one of the dozen or more world-class hiking trails here in Phoenix. After a hike we might go to La Grande Orange for lunch. Zia Records is a must-stop. I love seeing smaller local shows so I might go to Yucca Tap Room and hope to see an obnoxious punk band and/or play pinball. Always end the night on the patio at Casey Moore’s. Always.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I was in high school, my father took me and my band down to the local bank and co-signed on an $18k loan. We bought a PA, microphones, lights, etc. Next we rented out a few town halls around Wyoming and booked a few shows. We bought radio ads in each market. My dad then helped us build a trailer to haul our new gear around. It didn’t teach me anything about the music business or touring. It taught me everything about how to do things yourself. To not wait for permission or an invitation. Just go, do.

Later, when I was fresh out of music production school I got an internship at a small record label. There was a producer that worked with the label and was around a lot. His name was Gardner Cole and he wrote hits in the 80’s for Madonna, Amy Grant, Jody Watley, et al. In addition to being super laid back, he was a monster musician, he had a beautiful and talented wife and they lived in the coolest house in the desert. We became friends and I saw everything I wanted in him. He really steered me at a formative time. Still does.

In 2010 or so I was at the Grammy Awards with an artist I worked with at the time. I spotted David Foster across the venue so I went up and said hello. I’d read his autobiography several times by that point. The first thing he asked me was if I was playing on any records. I said, ‘not yet’ and he insisted I get to playing on some records. I never really thought about being live touring musician again with any seriousness.

Website: https://www.devanskaggs.com

Instagram: @devanskaggs

Twitter: @devanskaggs

Youtube: @devanskaggs

Image Credits
Mario Vega and Neil Schwartz