Blood Red Blues (Protest Song)

Chicago soul sensation The Devonns presents "Blood Red Blues (Protest Song)", the second single off upcoming debut album on Record Kicks.

The Devonns announce the second single taken from their upcoming self-titled debut album. The new track is called "Blood Red Blues (Protest Song)" and it will be officially available on April 17th in digital format.

About the new single, singer Mat Ajjarapu states: "I wrote this song about my frustration with the lack of progress America has made on issues such as the Trayvon Martin case or the Sandy Hook massacre. It's like everyone here is mad about those things, but no one actually has any power to change them. When I wrote it… I had been listening to both Sam Cooke's and Aretha Franklin's version of a "A Change is Gonna Come," as well as "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. And I remember trying to imagine if Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye could somehow come back from the dead and see how things had changed in 30 or 40 years, how might they feel? I think they'd probably feel pretty disappointed at a minimum".

Straight from the streets of Chicago, Illinois, The Devonns (pronounced "De vaughns") are the brand new soul outfit and the latest addition of the Record Kicks' family. Their debut album is an assortment of influences taking us back to the heyday of soul. Drawing influences from bands such as The Dramatics, The Isley Brothers and Leroy Hutson, yet bringing in their own unique modern twist, influenced by artists such as Jamie Lidell and Raphael Saadiq; singer Mat Ajjarapu explains how unintentionally, the rich heritage of Chicago's history with soul music influenced him.

The band started in 2016 after multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mathew Ajjarapu dropped out of med school and found himself unemployed and drifting. Listening to music constantly at the time, he found inspired to put a band together and create his own music. Pairing up with some of the best musicians Chicago has to offer, he founded The Devonns: the rhythm duty is entrusted to Khalyle Hagood (bass), Ari Lindo (guitar) and Khori Wilson (drums).