To celebrate the release of his second album Love You Anyway, our WNXP Nashville Artist of the Month Devon Gilfillian joined me in the studio to play some soothing soul music that has inspired him throughout the years. From artists who paved the way for him including Teddy Pendergrass, the Staples Singers, and Marvin Gaye, to artists similar to him shaping the sound of new soul music — like Steve Lacy, Nick Hakim and Silk Sonic — Devon’s DJ set is a vibe for all the lovers out there. Friday at 7 p.m. seemed like an appropriate time to air this playlist, with Devon curating the “love making, put the groceries down” type of hour on 91.ONE.
Check out the full set, above, and play it whenever you like.
Guest DJ Playlist
“All I Really Wanna Do” by Devon Gilfillian: That song to me is about falling in love and not being scared to be who you are with the person you are falling with. Not being scared to see what happens, see where the road leads and not to force anything, just taking it one day at a time.
“Love T.K.O.” by Teddy Pendergrass: I had to come and rep some Philly. Once that record is on, you know either something good is going to get ate or some love is going to happen. That’s one to start it off on.
“Let’s Do It Again” by The Staple Singers: I just love The Staple Singers. Mavis is my queen, her voice to me is so inspirational. The song itself was produced by Curtis Mayfield, which is crazy to me. Curtis and The Staple Singers come together, burst out of their box and put out some dirty, sexy music.
“Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” by The Dramatics: This to me is just a fun song. All the different voices in The Dramatics are just aggressive and beautiful at the same time.
“Playground” by Steve Lacy: I feel like that record, Apollo 21, didn’t get enough love and recognition that it deserved. Now I’m so happy seeing him blow up. He’s has been doing it for so long producing for Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and everybody. So its cool to see him get the recognition.
“After Last Night” by Silk Sonic Feat. Thundercat & Bootsy Collins: I was mad. They were teasing it during the Super Bowl and I was just like “how they gonna do this, how are they going to do that?” — it’s just too good, it’s too perfect. I was legit angry [Laughs]. I had the chance to go out and see them in Las Vegas and it was unbelievable, top three shows I’ve ever seen. They took everyone’s phones away and locked them up in pouches and they were just singing and dancing the whole time, it was nuts. Also Thundercat is my dude, I’m in love with everything he touches and you get Bootsy Collins on there, it’s unstoppable.
“Cuffed” by Nick Hakim: I got to see him at The Blue Room. His record Green Twins blew my mind. “Cuffed” is one of my favorites off that record.
“Come Live With Me Angel” by Marvin Gaye: After doing Marvin Gaye’s What Going On album, I dove into Marvin’s stuff and then I started really diving into that I Want You record. That whole album is just straight love making. You can’t do anything but put everything down and make love.
“White Gloves” by Khruangbin: I caught them at Brooklyn Bowl and just being a three-piece, the sound they fill and create is crazy. I know they already did a thing with Leon Bridges, I hope and pray they let me sing some songs with them, that’s just my dream so I’m going to put that in the universe.
“That’s The Way I Feel About ‘Cha” by Bobby Womack: I almost did “If You Think You’re Lonely Now” but I didn’t want to crush people’s hearts in this love making journey we’re on. I feel like this is one of those songs I put on making some dinner for my boo thang. My remember with Meggan, who I’m with, I throw this one and it was just like everything is right, all the ingredients taste a little bit better.
“Right Kind Of Crazy” by Devon Gilfillian: It’s about when you first fall in love with somebody, you’re trying to figure them out and you kind of lose yourself a little bit, not in a bad way.