In Rotation: Devon Cole

Before she was pulling platinum plaques or opening for Shania Twain at the Calgary Saddledome, Devon Cole was a psychology major in Kingston, Ontario, testing her pen at local open mics. The Calgary native caught lightning in a bottle in 2022 when her single "W.I.T.C.H." went viral, turning a massive internet moment into an Arista Records deal. Going from writing alone in a bedroom to navigating high-profile studio sessions usually strips a young artist of their instincts. Cole admits she lost her gut feeling for a minute after signing. Too many industry cooks in the kitchen. After dropping earlier projects like Party for One and 1-800-Got-Stress, she realized she needed to reclaim the driver's seat. You hear that deliberate course correction on her latest EP, Two Shades Blonder. She is actively shedding the viral-phenom label and getting back to the groove. "Serial Kisser" has been in heavy rotation for me all week. The track runs on a thick bassline and sharp guitar chops. Cole’s vocal delivery flips between a conversational deadpan on the verses and a bright, layered hook. When the chorus hits, the drums snap into a tight pocket, leaving just enough negative space for her tongue-in-cheek writing to land. She builds pop music with a subtle funk edge, anchoring the production in real instrumentation rather than washed-out synths. Mainstream pop is currently obsessed with heavy, melancholic ballads. Cole has the backstory to participate in that trend. She spent time in rehab. She navigated the bullying that comes with coming out as a queer kid in Alberta. She has the scars. But her music leans entirely into upbeat, unapologetic escapism. It takes serious penmanship to make pure fun sound this effortless. The industry is catching on to the pivot. Spotify just slid "Serial Kisser" onto their #NowWatching playlist this week. She is building a world worth stepping into. Hear it below.