Balance, Design, Products, Technology July 7, 2011

The Playlist: Designer Mike Devereaux

Musician Rocky Votolato should take note: not only is product and furniture designer Mike Devereaux a fan of his simple, straightforward music, but Mike also named his studio “Red Wire” after a line in one of Rocky’s songs. Find out what else makes up the workday mix of this Detroit-based designer in our latest Playlist.

What do you listen to while you work? I generally listen to a mix of stuff from folk/indie rock to electronic and hip-hop. Depending on my mood, it ranges from slower instrumentals to more up-tempo stuff—I really can’t get much done without something playing. I have a couple of work playlists that I add to pretty consistently as I get new music, and other than those, I tend to head to either to my newest stuff or standbys like Lucero, Rocky Votolato, and Radiohead.

How do you listen? Mostly headphones, either hooked up to my computer or my iPod. They really help me get lost in my work and focus. I also have a pretty rigged thrift-store speaker setup in the shop that I listen to sometimes while running the more serious tools.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers? Lately I’ve been using 8tracks. It is made up of user-submitted playlists, so there is a wide range of styles and content. It sometimes takes a bit of searching to find really great mixes, but they are definitely out there. They’ve helped turn me on to a lot of artists and songs that are now staples in my library. Also, NPR’s concert podcasts and Tiny Desk Concerts are a pretty frequent habit.

Does music influence your work? Not really directly, I guess. It can definitely turn my mood, which may sway a detail here or there. I did name the studio after a line in one of my favorite songs, however.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste? Mostly a couple of friends and my brother. A few of us trade new finds back and forth from time to time. Other than that, I find it just from my own browsing or NPR’s modern music.

What song or artist best represents the work you create? Something simple and honest like Rocky Votolato’s stuff. A lot of my interest is in materials and their execution in a piece. In many ways, the materials are like a musician or songwriter crafting a song. When you strip down each element, they seem to fit together easier and create a whole that is better than its parts.