Radio BurgerFuel Interview: Pacific Heights - Devin Abrams

From A Great Height

Say the name Devin Abrams, and you may not quite be able to place it amongst the vast backdrop of New Zealand music. But there are a few hundred million reasons that you will have heard his work. Out of Ōtautahi, came Shapeshifter, and out of that came Sambora. Moving away from performing, he's made a name for himself producing tracks with some of New Zealand's most well-known artists, including Drax Project and Stan Walker. After splitting his time between Aotearoa and LA, Covid forced his hand and gave Devin the space to finish off 'The Waters Between', the latest album from his ever-evolving solo project Pacific Heights.

‍

Both hailing from Christchurch and having a young family of about the same age, I'd like to be able to say that we've both also had successful music careers. However, I remain just a fan, while Devin is the real deal.

‍

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

‍

"My project (Pacific Heights) was on the back burner given it was mostly a passion project for me. I put a lot of time aside for it last year to finish the record and get the big single right. That's probably why it took so long because I was prioritising stuff that was keeping the lights on."

‍

However, Covid meant a refocus, and a created opportunity. "I couldn't really go anywhere and a lot of people were getting sick of Zoom, so I thought here's a perfect window of six months where I can just focus on getting my album all done."

For someone who has been on both sides of the mic, I wondered if he got different types of joy from writing for himself rather than others. Devin says, "They kind of go hand in hand for me. That's why I love having both production/writing work with other people and my solo stuff."

‍

"If I only had Pacific Heights, and I was only an artist, then so much of my emotional and mental stability would be tied up in how that went. Whereas when I've got so many other projects releasing music, I feel a bit more balanced about the results of Pacific Heights - like I can just enjoy the process, just enjoy making music for myself again."

‍

"Obviously, I don't have full autonomy with the other side, I can't make all the final creative decisions myself. But with my stuff, if the song doesn't feel right, I just take it off the album."

‍

Before the album came an EP, 'Grains', which hinted at the next direction that Pacific Heights would take. Devin says, "I don't know if any of those sharp turns have been intentional. I think they've been quite organic."

‍

The latest twist is hardly a surprise given he was producing the likes of Drax Project. "This album probably has a little bit more of an influence of the work I was doing for other people. Pulling in from pop and some of the ballad-y stuff I was working on with amazing artists. I soaked up some of that into my own stuff. That's the beauty of having my own project, just being able to go where I want it."

‍

While the vehicle may have been clear, the subject matter didn't come until after this. "It was probably around releasing the EP, and looking at the body of the album that was to follow," says Devin.

‍

Before the album came an EP, 'Grains', which hinted at the next direction that Pacific Heights would take. Devin says, "I don't know if any of those sharp turns have been intentional. I think they've been quite organic."

‍

The latest twist is hardly a surprise given he was producing the likes of Drax Project. "This album probably has a little bit more of an influence of the work I was doing for other people. Pulling in from pop and some of the ballad-y stuff I was working on with amazing artists. I soaked up some of that into my own stuff. That's the beauty of having my own project, just being able to go where I want it."

‍

While the vehicle may have been clear, the subject matter didn't come until after this. "It was probably around releasing the EP, and looking at the body of the album that was to follow," says Devin.

‍

I asked Devin if Covid brought some of those feelings to the fore.

‍

"I think it's hilarious that I was writing an album about emotional distance before Covid happened," he says.

‍

I thought it was quite a poignant album at this time. I was like, 'Wow. OK. I couldn't have scripted that better.' The downside of that was that people had fatigued around those kinds of concepts by the time my album finally came out! But I'm stoked that I did it that way, and I think there's always a time and a place for dealing with those kinds of conversations."

‍

I asked Devin if Covid brought some of those feelings to the fore.

‍

"I think it's hilarious that I was writing an album about emotional distance before Covid happened," he says.

‍

I thought it was quite a poignant album at this time. I was like, 'Wow. OK. I couldn't have scripted that better.' The downside of that was that people had fatigued around those kinds of concepts by the time my album finally came out! But I'm stoked that I did it that way, and I think there's always a time and a place for dealing with those kinds of conversations."

Given the amount of collaborations on the album, it seems like it would be a difficult beast to tour. Devin agrees, "I probably won't be touring it with the band again, because it's just too much work, too big of a commitment. And I get a lot of anxiety around performance, so I don't really miss that. I love being in the studio."

‍

All is not lost though. There may be some special one-off DJ sets coming up over summer. "I've thought about remixing the album myself, more dance versions of the songs," he says.

‍

"I've already started some, like a drum n bass mix of the Louis song which I think is pretty cool. So potentially remixing for a 45-50 minute set of more dancefloor versions of the album."

‍

Those that manage to catch this at a festival over summer will see Devin coming full circle, from his roots in the dungeon-like drum n bass clubs of Christchurch in the '90s, to a modern version in the summer sun.

‍

Pacific Heights latest album ‘The Water Between’ is out now. Stream it now.

‍