Fresh from her performance at New York Fashion Week, we catch up with Gibson Spotlight Artist Devon Thompson and debut a new interview series on the Gibson Gazette
Devon Thompson first appeared on our radar in 2024 when she joined the Gibson Artist Spotlight program, an initiative that showcases an evolving roster of emerging musicians across global Gibson channels. Since then, Devon has been busy—helping Gibson and Marc Jacobs launch a brand partnership during New York Fashion week (pictured above) and recently releasing a video for her latest single, “Hunger.” In the first of a new artist interview series on the Gibson Gazette, we caught up with Devon to pose the 10 questions we are asking everyone. Read on to find out what she had to say.
What was the first Gibson you remember playing or wanting to own?
“When I was really young I played a Les Paul™—I was like, 11 or something. It’s awesome. It’s my dad’s, he’s always had Gibsons, and I really love it. And when I was older I saw an Epiphone Casino and I played it and was like, ‘Oh, this is the guitar for me.’ But I’ve always loved Gibsons. I’ve been loving the SG™ recently, it’s amazing. It’s black and it’s perfect for me because it fits my aesthetic, and I’m so into fashion.”
Do you have a musical guilty pleasure?
“I have so many, but probably George Michael. That’s a big one for me. If you put on a George Michael song, it’s kind of my thing.”
What’s your secret guitar fantasy?
“My fantasy is that I can have every guitar customized in the aesthetics that I have—like little bows engraved on the fretboard—and then for every single song, I’ll have a new one. But every guitar is American-made. And every guitar is a version of an SG, a Casino, or a 335. I’m a little obsessed. My collection has grown massively.”
Do you have a potentially unpopular guitar opinion that you are willing to share?
“I don’t know how controversial I need to get right now but I think if you can’t hold down a good rhythm, no matter how much you can shred, if you can’t hold down a good rhythm in a band and fit into the pocket with everyone else, I don’t think you are that good of a guitar player.”
What has been the ultimate Spinal Tap moment in your career so far?
“I’ve had so many of those. When I went on tour I had a guy that was following me from venue to venue and I literally thought I was going to die. It was so scary. And a long time ago when I was in another band, we showed up to a venue after driving for three hours and they were like, ‘You get to play three songs.’ It was an open mic night and they didn’t tell us. I felt like it was a joke. And when we went to the Airbnb after the show, there were other people staying in it. There was a bunch of guys in there!”
Who is your ultimate Gibson guitar hero or heroine?
“In terms of my contemporaries and people I know right now, I love Grace Bowers so much, she’s incredible. I met her at the Nashville Garage and it was just so awesome. She’s really innovative and I really believe in what she stands for, and she really is paving the way for young female musicians like me, too. I really resonate with what she’s doing and I support her 1,000 percent.”
If you could learn to play one thing that you can’t currently play, what would it be?
“The entire Smiths catalog. Or nail a Siouxsie and the Banshees song. I’m a huge Siouxsie and the Banshees fan and I don’t know how they did that, honestly. It doesn’t sound like it but it’s super complex.”
If someone passes you an acoustic guitar at a party, what song are you going to play?
“I’m gonna play ‘You’re Not the Only One I Know’ by The Sundays or I’ll play an Amy Winehouse song. Or Portishead or PJ Harvey. Maybe I’ll play ‘This Is Love’ by PJ Harvey.”
If you weren’t a guitar player, what would be your ideal alternative career?
“I’m a huge reader and I would be an author. I would write fiction—I read a lot of fantasy novels so I would write fantasy. I’m a huge Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones fan.”
What’s the one piece of gear you can’t live without?
“I have to say, besides my guitar, I need an endless supply of quarter-inch cables, because they break every five seconds. And not just in black.”
Find out more about Devon Thompson via her official website.
