Devan, thank you for joining us today! Let’s start from the beginning. Can you share a bit about your journey as an Indian American artist in the hip hop scene? How did you get your start in music?
Hell yeah bro, thanks for having me. Growing up as an Indian American, music was always around me, whether it was Bollywood soundtracks at family gatherings, or hip hop playing at school events and parties. One of my friends from my street who did music started locally popping while I was growing up, and another one is working at Empire to this day, so I definitely had heavy exposure to the culture. I started getting into music myself first as a producer, probably around 14 or 15 I believe, just cooking up on Garageband. I gradually became hella serious about it in high school, selling beats as a side hustle and really just trying to get my foot in the door in any way possible bro.
Growing up, were there any particular artists or influences, either from the U.S. or India, that shaped your sound and style in hip hop?
To be honest with you, just listening to Rodeo from Travis Scott when it dropped around 2015 was the sole reason I got into making beats. Artists like Travis and A$AP Rocky were definitely major influences for me in terms of sound, even to this day bro. I swear that kinda dark, psychedelic soundscape from that whole wave at that time was my daily motivation. Also Drake was my favorite artist throughout high school. I wasn’t into hiphop music from India as much growing up, but as y’all gonna find out for yourselves, I got a whole like indie singing side to my artistry as well, which I’d like to credit legends like Arjit Singh for. But I ain’t tryna speak too much on that just yet. Everyone’s gonna just have to be patient.
Your new single “MUMBAI MONEY” has a unique sound and vibe. Can you tell us the inspiration behind the track? What message are you trying to convey with this song?
To be completely honest with you, I was really inspired to make this the first song of my professional career as an artist, especially under the label my family Avi, Sidd and I founded together with D3VIOUS UNTITLED. I feel like this whole project is a very honest and real showing of our shared roots and collective pride to be growing up brown in the Bay and America as a whole, you know? I guess you could say this is my statement piece self introduction to this whole game bro, and rather than shy away from my heritage and identity to play this game, I’m choosing to not only embrace it but showcase it to the whole world.
The title “MUMBAI MONEY” is intriguing, what does it represent for you? Is there a personal connection to Mumbai or a particular story behind the title?
Mumbai is to India what LA is to America, you know. Just a melting pot of food, arts, culture, all of that, which then kinda translates into the biggest entertainment hub of their respective countries. Even with the chorus, the whole “Getting money in Mumbai,” I’m really just trying to make that ever so apparent as a way to pay homage to what this beautiful city means to our people. If you’re making Mumbai kinda Money, you’re honestly just popping bro. I don’t know if you saw the Ambani wedding that was out there in the media for awhile and everything, but I swear that shit lasted like 7 months or something, must have cost them like a billi. That’s gotta tell you everything you need to know, the city of Mumbai to me symbolizes both hustle and luxury, and I wanted MUMBAI MONEY to reflect that energy.
In “MUMBAI MONEY,” you blend elements of Indian culture with hip hop. How do you navigate merging these two worlds, and what challenges or rewards come with that?
It’s definitely a balancing act, but it’s something I think I’m passionate about. Combining two distinct worlds can be tricky bro, especially when you’re trying to stay authentic to both sides. But that’s also where the reward lies, when you hear a song over a trap beat and it just clicks, that’s that music magic at its finest. The challenge is making sure both cultures shine without diluting either one, but I feel like that’s what keeps the creative process fresh.
Can you walk us through your creative process when crafting a song like “MUMBAI MONEY”? How did the concept, beat, and lyrics come together?
Yeah bro. What’s crazy actually is if I’m not mistaken, the beat for MUMBAI MONEY is the last I made to this point. I remember making the beat in maybe 15 minutes on my laptop at my parent’s crib. One of my biggest mentors and inspirations for even doing all this music and whatnot, my brother Todd from NY, had just hit my phone talking about how it would be absolutely crazy if the next song I did was something related to my heritage and roots. Next thing I know, I did the beat right after the call, wrote to it that night, and booked a studio out in SF that same week. Needless to say, the song came out the way it did and we’re here.
Did you collaborate with any producers or other artists on this track?
If so, how did those collaborations influence the final outcome? Nah bro, this whole song from scratch like I said, straight from the depths of my mind to your ears.
What was the most challenging aspect of creating “MUMBAI MONEY,” and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge for me was honestly finding that right balance between modern, heavy hitting trap shit and more traditional Indian sounds. I experimented with a lot of different instruments and styles before landing on something that felt right with that flute you hear in the song, and the phonk inspired drums. It was all about trial and error, and having the patience to let the sound evolve naturally. But it would have been a damn shame if I couldn’t pull it off, because Bollywood and Indian music has been sampled by so many legends before me bro.
As an Indian American in the hip hop industry, how important is it for you to represent your cultural heritage in your music? How do you see this impacting your audience?
It’s definitely super important to me. I mean rap music is more global than ever, and from the India side of the world, Punjabi music’s been going crazy for a hot minute, and just this year, Hanumankind dropped the craziest music video I’ve seen to date. So just to have the opportunity to add to this legacy as it’s being built in front of my own two eyes is a surreal experience bro. For my audience, especially those who share a similar background, I hope it’s empowering to see someone who looks like them and shares their experiences making waves in a genre that hasn’t always been inclusive. I love the idea of challenging norms when it comes to the culture and defying every damn stereotype bro.
Have you faced any challenges or stereotypes in the music industry due to your background? How have you turned these challenges into strengths?
There’s definitely been some challenges, from people not taking me seriously because I don’t fit the typical rapper mold I guess you could say, to being underestimated simply because of my background. But I’ve learned to use that as fuel. It’s about flipping the narrative, taking what people see as a limitation and turning it into your superpower. Being different is what makes me stand out.
What do you hope “MUMBAI MONEY” communicates to both your Indian American fans and the broader hip hop community?
I hope it communicates that music is for everyone. Whether you’re from Mumbai, New York, or anywhere in between, the culture is universal, and it’s more global than ever before. Life is about struggle, hustle, and celebrating who you are. I want this song to resonate with anyone who’s appreciative of their own grind, no matter where they come from.
“MUMBAI MONEY” is already generating buzz, what’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations we should be on the lookout for?
I ain’t tryna say too much, but best believe the next single or two-pack i got lined up is going to completely flip the script on everyone. I also got a few exciting collaborations in the works for sure.
Where do you see your music evolving in the next few years? Are there new sounds or themes you’re excited to explore?
To be completely real with you bro, I don’t ever want to have the label of being just a rapper, you feel me? Like I want to explore everything- and when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Like y’all ain’t hear me even sing yet. I also plan to definitely dive deeper into blending genres and experiment with more cinematic elements in my sound. I’m a big cinephile, but that’s a whole nother story. I guess what I’m trying to say is I really value every angle of music as an art form, whether it be performing, music, visuals, etc. So simply put, expect complete chaos but beautiful in my own artistic ways.
Lastly, what message do you have for young artists, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, who are trying to break into the hip hop scene?
Stay true to yourself and your roots. This industry can try to box you in, but your unique perspective is your strength bro. Don’t be afraid to embrace what makes you different because that’s what will set you apart. Keep grinding, stay consistent, and don’t let anyone define your journey for you. This shit is a straight videogame.
When you’re not in the studio, what are some things you enjoy doing? Do these activities influence your music in any way?
I like experiencing things bro. And I know that sounds like a crazy generic blanket statement or whatever, but let me explain. I basically enjoy doing anything that isn’t something routine or necessarily something I’ve done before on a regular occasion. And that to me is everything that life consists of, not to get too philosophical and shit. But yeah bro, definitely just striving daily to live like this heavily influences my music. I think I can always draw from the random and visceral experiences I keep trying to cultivate every second of my existence, if that makes sense.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, from any genre, who would it be and why?
Travis Scott, 100%. Travis is one of my biggest inspirations for producing, engineering, and striving to do everything myself end to end. I mean you take one listen to his music and you can clearly tell the incredible dedication that goes into that sound and the whole aesthetic that goes along with that shit. And that’s to this day a level I swear I’m constantly striving for bro.
Before we wrap up, can you share a fun fact about yourself that your fans might not know?
Most people always wonder why I spell my name with an A instead of Devin, which is how it’s pronounced. The Devan spelling is actually an ode to my mother and the family I started this music shit with, Sidd and Avi. I also got her name tatted on my right wrist. Devan means “Divine” in Hindi, so this is me paying homage to my mother via her native language. Also, my last name Trey is Italian for Three, so my name literally translates to “Divine Three.” Call it corny or whatever if you want, but like I said, I started all this with my brothers Sidd and Avi. Devan Trey is like a literal embodiment of that concept bro.
Thanks for your time, Devan! Where can our readers find “MUMBAI MONEY” and follow your journey online?
Hell yeah, thanks for having me. You can find “MUMBAI MONEY” on all streaming platforms, and follow me on IG, TikTok, and YouTube @devantrey everywhere for more updates on what’s next from me. Everyone gotta tap in bro.
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