The Devil Is Real marks a bold new chapter for King Dude aka TJ Cowgill whose cult following has long embraced his dark and devotional sound. After closing the book on King Dude with 2022’s Death, Cowgill turned toward fresh terrain. The Devil Is Real is an occult rock project with psychedelic textures and a heavier direction. Joining him is longtime friend and collaborator Justin Pittney, known for fronting Residuels and Love City, as well as his work behind the boards as a producer.
“I knew that whatever I did next,” Cowgill says, “I wanted it to be a collaboration - with someone I respect musically and who shares my sense of humor. I wanted to make music with someone I actually want to hang out with.”
The project’s self-titled debut presents its distinct vision with Down to the Graveyard, a cinematic and melodic single that captures the band’s essence. It’s a haunting invitation that sounds like a dirge and a dream at the same time and signals their artistic intent with clarity.
“I started this song like all The Devil Is Real songs, with a beautifully broken blues riff buried in tape echo,” Cowgill explains. “Then lyrics came to me immediately, like a forgotten memory from a fever dream… They felt both familiar and new at the same time.”
Cowgill continues: “My intention was to make The Devil into this occult rock band that had clear roots in the blues. Now It feels like we are building a haunted house on that foundation.”
“It’s the most original thing I’ve ever worked on,” Pittney adds. “I was thinking about scenes, tone shifts… how it would feel if it were a film. It’s pop, it’s dramatic, it’s comically satanic... exactly what I hoped we’d make when we started this thing.”
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The Devil Is Real
Not Just Religious Music
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