24-year-old singer-songwriter Devon Gabriella had a stellar 2025, opening for sombr on his Late Nights & Young Romance Tour across North America and captivating audiences with her confessional songwriting, with intimate yet somehow universal lyricism and a warm pop sound.
She’s gearing up to make 2026 even bigger. Ahead of her performance at SXSW in the BMG Label & Publishing Showcase on March 13, she just released a stunning new single, “Old Time’s Sake” that’s sure to convert even more passionate fans. The moody, bluesy pop track has a touch of nostalgia while being anything but your classic song about nursing a broken heart. It’s vulnerable yet playful and sharp as she reflects on a toxic past love and the possibility of a new encounter, considering the “what if”s before deciding she’s way better off without him. It’s just the first taste of much more music to come, and we had the pleasure of speaking with Devon to learn all about the song and its inspirations in the interview below.
Sweety High: What does “Old Time’s Sake” mean to you? What was the inspiration behind the track and what do you hope it will mean to your listeners
Devon Gabriella: A couple weeks before I left for tour, I had a studio session with my producer Kevin. On the drive there, I came to the realization that I would soon be performing in the same city that my ex had moved to a couple years back. I was entertaining the idea of inviting him to the show, knowing that if he did come, it would probably end badly (as things between us historically had). Throughout telling the story and crafting the song, I found a touch of humor within the dynamic that I knew wanted to shine through. I hope listeners interpret and resonate with this song in any way they need to. I also hope it’s a song they play when they need a good dance party in their bedroom. I’m so excited for it to be out in the world.
SH: With a song like this one, how do you balance the emotion with humor to land precisely the tone you’re going for?
DG: I love this question. When writing songs, I always want to highlight the emotional depth of the experience I’m talking about—and with themes of love and loss, usually that feeling is sadness or yearning of some sort. But in this particular creative process, I let myself find a note of levity which marked a turning point in my songwriting. One of my favorite parts about the song is that there still is that sense of sadness and disappointment that lies between the cheeky lines- when recording the song, I made sure to keep that in mind, which also shaped my vocal delivery of the lyrics.
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SH: How would you describe the production and musicality of the track?
DG: When I was writing “Old Time’s Sake,” I was listening to a lot of Fleetwood Mac, Kacey Musgraves and Holly Humberstone. I like to think this song exists in a space adjacent to each of those worlds but also exists on its own. I let myself explore what felt like a more “elevated” sonic plain and my producer Kevin absolutely nailed the instrumentation. I would say the production is contemporary and playful but still pays homage to some of those timeless older records.
(Photo credit: Chris Llerin)
SH: What’s your favorite lyric from the song? Why?
DG: I think the second half of the first verse, “I could call you out of boredom and invite you to my show then sing about you, like, the whole damn night,” has to be my favorite. It was so fun to sing on tour, because, there I was, on stage and singing about this person. I also love the bluntness and playfulness it carries.
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SH: Can you tease anything else you have coming up in 2026?
DG: I’ve been in the studio pretty much every day writing my favorite music yet. I’m itching to put out more songs and play them live… I have a good feeling about this year!
(Photo credit: Chris Llerin)
SH: Is there anything else we should know about you or the track?
DG: Thank you for letting me introduce the “Old Time’s Sake” world to you guys! Hopefully we’ll catch up again soon, because there’s so much more to come.
Curious to hear even more from our favorite artists? Click HERE to read our interview with Em Beihold on her debut album, Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter.
