Devón’s Journey: from the concrete grew another rose!

Amor Gabriel Rodriguez, known as Devón, is a Rotterdam-based artist whose life is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the transformative power of music. Born in the Netherlands but growing up in the Dominican Republic, Devón spent his early years immersed in a world brimming with culture and sound. Without the distractions of modern day technology, his childhood was shaped by the rhythm of life itself—climbing trees, reading books, and listening to the radio. Although he didn’t yet understand English, music transcended language for him. Songs from both the underground Dominican scenes and worldwide mainstream made an indelible mark, teaching him to feel music before he could fully understand it. 

At the age of Ten, Devón relocated to the Netherlands, a move that changed the trajectory of his life. He was placed in SKVR, a performing arts program in Rotterdam, where he was introduced to singing, acting, and dancing. While the creative outlet was a joy, the language barrier made it difficult for him to connect with other children, eventually leading him to step away. Yet his love for creative expression persisted.

Hip-hop became his refuge. Through breakdancing, beatboxing, graffiti, and DJ’ing, Devón discovered the essence of the genre long before he fully understood its global influence.
At just twelve years old, he performed for the first time beatboxing for an elderly home, marking the beginning of his journey as a performer. Despite being a class clown who often hid his struggles behind laughter, Devón discovered the power of writing during a school assignment. When he poured his thoughts and pain onto paper, he felt liberated for the first time. Writing became an outlet, a way to process his experiences and transform his inner turmoil into art something he didn’t know was even possible.

By fifteen, A pivotal moment came when he received his first PC. Despite his family’s financial struggles, worsened by what we now know as the Toeslagaffaire, this small victory allowed him to begin exploring music production. Using Audacity, he taught himself to record, edit, and experiment with sounds. What began as youthful curiosity evolved into a skill set that would later define his career: producing, engineering, mixing, mastering & live sound. And even financial skills like book keeping, self-development and more.
Devón didn’t realize it then, but he was laying the foundation for a future as a fully self-reliant artist and entrepreneur.

By the time Devón turned sixteen, he had already decided his path: music. Yet, like many creative souls, he found himself clashing with the traditional expectations of school and society. Pushed into a culinary program as a placeholder, Devón quickly understood he wasn’t there to pursue a dream but to fulfill a requirement— He realized that five more years of unrelated studies before pursuing music school was not the right path for him. The disconnect was unbearable. “What am I doing here?” he asked himself daily. Frustrated but determined, he made the bold decision to drop out.

It wasn’t an act of rebellion but one of purpose Determined to chart his own path, committed to building his career from the ground up, working tirelessly to establish connections in Rotterdam’s creative scene. For a full year, volunteering at events, collaborated with organizations, individuals, instances, festivals, schools and more completely for free learning from every experience. He believed that by gaining real-world experience, music school would eventually see his worth.
Yet, when the time came to audition, the door was firmly closed.

When he finally applied to music school, his hopes were high, but reality hit hard. He wasn’t even granted an audition. Devón was devastated but refused to give up. Instead, he doubled down, taking on paid gigs and growing his reputation. People began to recognize his name, not just for his performances but for his work ethic and versatility. A year later, he tried again, thinking his growing résumé would guarantee a chance at this music school. But once more, the answer was no. 

The second rejection was heartbreaking. He broke down in front of his mother, the weight of his dreams momentarily feeling out of reach. it fuelled a new determination. Instead of dwelling on what could have been, Devón channeled his energy into creating something entirely his own.
“If they won’t let me in,” he thought, “I’ll build something of my own.” And in 2019, that’s exactly what he did.

Founding his own business was the best decision of his life, a decision that would redefine his career and legacy. It was more than a career move—it was a declaration of independence. Through his company, Devón not only continued to grow as an artist but also found a way to give back. By taking full control of his artistry, Devón became more than just a performer. He became a teacher, a mentor, and a community leader, eventually collaborating with the very schools that had once turned him away. He taught workshops at schools, including the very ones he went to. opening opportunities for him and the talented people that were denied just like him, helping 3 other artist gain their diploma from conservatory at their end show, motivating inspiring people. His story became proof that resilience and perseverance could transform rejection into opportunity.

This message resonated deeply with the people he inspired, fueling his desire to keep building his legacy. 

Just as his momentum was building, 2020 brought an unexpected challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic. For many in the creative industries, it was a devastating time of despair. Events were canceled, income streams dried up, and the world stood still. But for Devón, it was also an opportunity to polish his craft. While live performances and collaborations were paused, he dedicated himself to becoming a master of his art. He honed his skills as a producer, recording engineer, and sound technician, becoming the “whole package” he always envisioned. 

Beyond music, Devón sought personal growth. Working with a neuro-linguistic programming organization, he discovered new ways to strengthen his mindset gaining insights. The experience helped him articulate and focus his ambitions, giving him the clarity to keep pushing forward. The lessons learned during this time fortified what he was already applying, while giving him an extra push and perspective, that he was always well on the way. 

Even with these achievements, financial stability was still a challenge. To fund his dreams, Devón took on work as a loader. The physically demanding job was humbling, offering him a new perspective on society’s structure. He saw firsthand how essential roles like his were undervalued and how consumerism dominated daily life. Yet, even during this time, he was performing gigs, living a double life as an artist admired on stage but struggling behind the scenes. 

Working that job, while challenging, taught Devón invaluable lessons about discipline and humility. He came to understand that even the roles society overlooks are vital to the world’s functioning. Even the most overlooked roles, like that of a garbage man, are filled by individuals who have every right to chase their dreams. he reflected, recognizing the irony of how undervalued yet essential such work was. Still gratefull for in Dominican Republic he knows that people would have to work 3x as much as him and still they would’t have enough to feed their family, This realization deepened his perspective on the world and solidified his commitment to pursuing a life that aligned with his passions. 

At the same time, this chapter of his life revealed a stark duality. On stage, Devón was celebrated, performing at gigs that made him appear to the outside world as a successful and thriving artist. Yet offstage, he was struggling to make ends meet, navigating financial hardships while picking up trash by day and chasing his dreams by night. It was a humbling period that pushed him to question the pressures society places on individuals to conform. He realized that if he didn’t create a future for himself, he would be pushed into a life he didn’t want—one dictated by external expectations rather than his own aspirations.

Despite these challenges, Devón never lost sight of his goals. Over time, he saved enough money to invest back into his dreams. He channeled his earnings into funding his music, inching closer to creating the body of work he had always envisioned. Yet, just as momentum began to build, life threw another curveball. Health issues forced him to leave his job, and with it, the stability he had worked so hard to secure. 

This moment was devastating, but it also became a turning point in his mindset. As he reflected on his journey, Devón began to see his work in a new light. “I’ve been so selfish with my music,” he realized. “I’ve been creating, but I haven’t been sharing.” While he had poured his heart and soul into his art, much of it remained unreleased, depriving the world of the stories he had to tell. It was a transformative realization: his music wasn’t just for him—it was a service to others.

From this point forward, Devón’s approach to his craft shifted. He embraced the idea of giving, recognizing that his art had the power to connect, inspire, and uplift others. This newfound purpose reinvigorated his passion, propelling him to not only create but to share openly and generously.
Along the way, he also learned to accept help, understanding that it’s okay to ask for help. 

Devón always knew his path was more than a personal pursuit—it was about building connections and leaving a legacy that resonated deeply with others. The lessons learned from his struggles, whether it was rejection from music school, the challenges of COVID-19, or the unfair disadvantage and discomfort of the toeslagaffere that impacted not only him but his sick mother and countless other people, all contributed to his growth as both an artist and a person. These experiences shaped his music, giving it a depth and authenticity that audiences could feel. 

Devón also came to understand the importance of his music that it was not only keeping him from walking a different path he may have regreted but also helping others in his journey. He had spent years navigating the music industry on his own terms, he always knew that true growth required the trust and support of others.
“Who am I to hold people back who want to help me?” he asked himself.
This mindset together with the careful dissection of all his challenges allowed him to open even more doors, embracing deeper collaborations and partnerships that aligned with his values.

This period of self-reflection also marked a shift in his understanding of success. While the world often defines success through fame, numbers or fortune, Devón saw it differently. To him, success was about creating art that was true to his vision, impacting lives, and building a legacy of integrity and purpose. He began focusing on the process rather than the outcome, finding joy in the act of creating and connecting.

Through his music, Devón has turned his personal experiences into a source of inspiration. Each song while Joyful on the surface, reflects a piece of his journey, from the pain of rejection to the triumph of perseverance, from the struggles of life to the joy of finding his voice and love. His art is a living testament to the idea that beauty can emerge from hardship and that every setback is an opportunity to grow.

With a heart full of gratitude and a fire that refuses to burn out, Devón continues to create, inspire, and build a legacy that celebrates resilience, creativity, and the power of human connection & depth.

His story isn’t just one of survival—it’s one of thriving against the all the odds. 

As Devón looks to the future, he remains committed to his vision of making music that transcends borders and connects people. He sees his work as a service—a way to give back to the world that has shaped him. For him, this is only the beginning. “If everything I’ve been through couldn’t stop me,” he says,

“then nothing will.”