Meet Arvada musician Deva Yoder

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI LFUGLEI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Coming from a family of musicians, Deva Yoder learned to play guitar on a discarded Christmas gift.

“We gave my mom a guitar for Christmas, but she didn’t want to cut her nails,” said Yoder. “So I ended up playing it. I just grabbed some Beatles books and started teaching myself.”

With a musician for a father, Yoder grew up surrounded by music. Often, there would be musicians over at the house jamming in the basement, Yoder said.

“I remember the wife of one of my dad’s friends,” Yoder said. “She sat in on drums when she was like eight months pregnant. And I just remember watching her and just being amazed that a woman could be that condent.”

Growing up around music has in uenced Yoder’s own experience having a family.

“ ere was this full circle moment when I was pregnant with my daughter and I was drumming,” Yoder said. “And I was like ‘Oh right, I’m just like her.’”

Originally from the Midwest, Yoder moved to Colorado in 1996. She began playing open mics and getting to know other musicians in the area, whom she admired for their do-ityourself attitude.

“You don’t need any labels,” Yoder added. “ at’s kind of my attitude — scrappy, like doing this on my own and not giving my rights away.”

Yoder describes her music as indie-folk-rock. She released her second album, “Be Well,” in May. e album was written throughout the pandemic, then produced.

“When we came back in the studio, we were like, ‘What can we use? What do we need to redo?’” she said.

For Yoder, it was important to write the album for herself — without considering anyone else’s opinions.

“I had a sense of non-attachment to it,” she said. “Like, this is what I want, but I’m not attached to the outcome, either.”

“I still listen to it,” Yoder added. “I’m like, I love that part. I love that part…I love who I play with. I can trust them to (create) something beautiful.”

Yoder’s “day job” also revolves around music. She plays at local retirement homes for residents.

“Sometimes they’ll get up and dance,” Yoder said. “(Or) they’re singing along with me. It’s a beautiful thing. I really am enjoying it. I’ve been doing it for over a year. I’ve never been happier in a job.”

To learn more about Yoder, her music and upcoming shows, visit her website at devayoder. com.