Ocean City native Mary Devlin is navigating the music industry on her own terms. A few years ago, the 2015 Ocean City High School graduate hoped a professionally produced single might open doors to a music industry job – any job, really. Now, she’s doing both: building a career as a singer-songwriter and working full-time in social media for major music companies, including Universal Music Group and Capitol Records. Her latest release, “reduce you,” is a testament to that journey, and a pointed reflection on the lessons learned along the way.
The new single, released this month, isn’t about a single person, Devlin explained, but rather a composite of experiences and individuals she’s encountered throughout her life. The lyrics, she says, are a direct response to encountering insincerity. “It’s about phonies,” she said. “I’m really that type of person who can’t handle fake people.” The song, available on Spotify and other streaming platforms, is a declaration of self-awareness and a reclaiming of power. “It’s sort of about growing up and taking a bit of power back in a situation like that. It’s sort of saying now that I’ve grown a little bit, I can tell exactly who you are, what kind of person you are and I’m not going to fall for it any more. I’m just gonna try to preserve moving with my life and you can keep moving with yours.”
From Ocean City to Philadelphia and Beyond
Devlin’s path hasn’t been linear. Even as attending Rowan University, she first explored her musical ambitions, releasing her debut single, “lover’s hands.” That initial foray into professional music production sparked a desire to be *in* the industry, leading to her current role in social media. She credits her current position with providing access to experiences she wouldn’t have otherwise had, like attending Sean Lennon’s birthday party last October, where she connected with Universal Music executives. “At the end of the day, everyone’s a music lover, so it’s just fun to hang out with them,” she said.
But her focus remains on her own music. “reduce you” builds on the foundation laid by “lover’s hands,” again produced by Brandon Ireland. “He’s fantastic,” Devlin said. “He really just brings songs to life. I come to him with the lyrics and the melody chord progression and he just turns it into something amazing.” She also highlighted the contributions of Michael Auble, a local musician who plays with bands like Molly Ringworm, on the drum work. “I just tried to pull from my resources here in South Jersey considering we have so much talent here,” she noted, adding that Auble has also recently released his own single.
The Songwriting Process: From Humming to Honesty
Devlin’s songwriting process is, as she describes it, somewhat unconventional. It typically begins with experimentation on the guitar. “It’s kind of silly, but you have the melody going and you kind of just start humming nonsense words at first,” she explained. “And then you start thinking about what’s going on in your life, what’s been on your mind lately, and you start putting different words to that.” The result is a raw, honest expression of her experiences. A particularly striking lyric from “reduce you” describes someone “turning casual cruelty into rocket fuel,” a line that encapsulates the song’s central theme of recognizing and rejecting manipulative behavior.
The growth in her online following – from around 38,000 across various platforms a few years ago to nearly 90,000 today – suggests a growing audience resonating with her authenticity. Devlin acknowledges this and plans to capitalize on the momentum. “I do plan to ‘hunker down and push myself to release more often,’” she said. She’s currently based in Philadelphia, but her musical roots remain firmly planted in South Jersey, a region she actively supports by collaborating with local talent.
Looking Ahead: More Music on the Horizon
Devlin’s story is a compelling example of how artists are forging their own paths in the modern music landscape. She’s not waiting for a traditional record deal or industry validation; she’s building a career that combines her creative passions with a practical understanding of the business side of music. Her work with Universal Music Group and Capitol Records provides valuable insight into the industry’s inner workings, informing her own artistic decisions.
Devlin is focused on consistently releasing new music and connecting with her growing fanbase. While a specific release schedule hasn’t been announced, she’s committed to maintaining the momentum generated by “reduce you.” Fans can stay updated on her latest projects and tour dates by following her on social media. The next step for Devlin is to continue refining her sound and sharing her honest, relatable songwriting with the world.
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