Independent Artist Spotlight: Eddie Devine — “If You Chase God, He’ll Make the Industry Chase You”
After stepping away from songwriting for more than three decades, Eddie Devine returned to the pen in 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose. What followed was extraordinary: 61 songs in roughly two and a half months, an album, a memoir, a devotional, a Bible study, and a testimony centered on identity, redemption, and discovering God’s presence throughout every chapter of his life.
We caught up with Eddie Devine to talk about his journey back to music, the experiences behind his songwriting, his thoughts on today’s music industry, and why he’s more interested in chasing God than chasing industry success.
TRACKSTARZ: For those who are just discovering you, tell us who Eddie Devine is. How long have you been making music, and how would you describe your sound?
EDDIE DEVINE: My name is Eddie Devine. First and foremost, I’m a child of the King. Beyond that, I’m a husband, a father, a songwriter, an author, a producer, a music publisher, and a business owner.
I’ve been involved in music since the late ’80s. Then life happened, and I didn’t find my way back to writing again until recently, in 2026.
As a songwriter, I’ve evolved over the years. I started out writing pop music, eventually moved into country. Today, I primarily write Contemporary Christian, Christian Hip Hop, and Christian R&B.
TRACKSTARZ: You have a pretty diverse musical background. Who are some of the artists—mainstream or Christian—who helped shape you as a songwriter?
EDDIE DEVINE: Growing up, my father exposed me to a really wide range of music. I grew up listening to artists like Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, and The Temptations.
Writers and storytellers like Bob Dylan, Carole King, James Taylor, Jim Croce, Don McLean, and Bruce Springsteen helped me develop my instincts as a songwriter. Tupac also had a strong influence on me. I always felt he was far ahead of his time.
My musical palette has always been pretty diverse. I enjoy listening to jazz and classical music as well. Boney James, Andrea Bocelli, Keith Green, CeCe Winans, and Lecrae have also influenced me.
TRACKSTARZ: When someone hears an Eddie Devine song, what do you hope they walk away with?
EDDIE DEVINE: I write from experience. I don’t sit down and write about things I don’t know anything about. Every song I’ve written comes from something real, whether it’s something I’ve gone through, something I’ve witnessed, something I identify with, or sometimes something I’m wrestling with in that very moment.
My hope is that people hear those songs and recognize parts of their own story. That they can say, “I’ve felt that. I’ve been there.”
And ultimately, with the music I’m writing today, I hope they see Christ in the middle of those stories. Not Eddie. Christ. Because He’s the One who’s been present in every chapter of my life, and my hope is that listeners might recognize Him in their own story as well.
TRACKSTARZ: The music industry has changed dramatically since you first got involved in music. What’s your perspective on the industry today, and what do you believe separates your songwriting from everything listeners are hearing right now?
EDDIE DEVINE: I think the music industry has changed quite a lot, and it’s still evolving. The economics aren’t what they once were, the traditional path of getting signed to a record deal isn’t the same, and technology has completely changed the tools available to songwriters and the ways we can create and produce music.
Since I’m a songwriter more than a recording artist, I don’t spend a lot of time chasing trends or trying to predict where the industry is headed next. The industry will continue to evolve, and like everyone else, I’m learning what that evolution looks like.
As for what makes my music stand out, I don’t know that I’d say my songs are better than anyone else’s. Music is subjective. What I can say is that I don’t write to fit a trend or chase what’s popular at the moment. I write from my experiences, from things I’ve lived through, witnessed, struggled with, learned from, or am currently walking through. Then I use the skills I’ve developed as a songwriter to shape those experiences into songs.
When I first returned to songwriting, I’ll admit there was still a part of me that wanted the validation that comes with having artists record my songs and being recognized for my work. But at some point, I had to ask God, “What do You want me to do with all these songs You’ve given me?”
The answer changed the way I looked at everything. I realized I’d rather win souls for Heaven than have dollars in my hand.
A good friend shared something with me that I’ve never forgotten:
“Eddie, if you chase God, He’ll make the industry chase you.”
I don’t know what God will ultimately do with these songs, and honestly, that’s not my job. My job is to write honestly, tell the story well, and point people toward Christ. I’ll let God decide what happens after that.
TRACKSTARZ: Let’s go deeper into your faith. What’s one misconception about God that really bothers you when you hear people say it?
EDDIE DEVINE: The misconception that probably bothers me most is when people say, “If God really exists, why does He allow bad things to happen to good people?”
I understand why people ask that question. I’ve experienced things in my own life that I didn’t understand and certainly wouldn’t have chosen. But having a relationship with God doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen to us. It doesn’t exempt us from loss, disappointment, pain, or suffering.
The truth is, I don’t have an answer for why every bad thing happens, and I don’t think any of us do. What I can tell you from my own experience is that some of the most difficult seasons of my life have also been the places where I’ve come to know God in ways I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.
TRACKSTARZ: You’ve mentioned your own story several times. When did you come to know Christ for yourself, and what testimony has God given you?
EDDIE DEVINE: I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ in 1988, but the testimony God has given me actually reaches back much further.
I experienced childhood abuse and rejection, ran away from home at fourteen, and survived on the streets. Growing up, I learned quickly what the world would and would not accept. Rather than showing people who I really was, I learned to give them the version of myself they could receive. That became my mask, and over the years, identity and validation became things I searched for outside myself.
After coming to Christ, my life changed. But what I didn’t fully understand, even after decades as a Christian, was how present God had been throughout my entire story.
That began to change in 2026. After more than three decades away from songwriting, God stirred something in my heart and called me to write a Christian Hip Hop album for a younger generation searching for identity, hope, and purpose. I answered that call out of obedience, and as I began writing, something happened that I never expected.
God began using chapters of my own life to shape the songs. Memories and experiences I had buried or forgotten began coming back, not simply so I could write about them, but so God could show me something I had never fully understood: He had been there in every chapter.
Through those songs, God began dismantling the identity I had created for myself. I realized I didn’t need the mask anymore. I didn’t need the world’s validation. I didn’t need someone else to tell me who I was. I could go directly to the Source, and the Source was God.
Then came another realization: I was loved.
While writing I Am Loved, I wrote a simple line about my relationship with my heavenly Father: “My last name, the same as Yours.” For me, that expressed something profound God was teaching me: I belonged to Him. My identity wasn’t rooted in my last name, rejection, abuse, labels, or expectations I’d carried from childhood. I belonged to the Father.
What began as obedience to write ten songs became an intimate encounter with God. After decades as a Christian, I discovered a freedom and intimacy with the Father I had never experienced before. I knew whose I was. I knew where my validation came from. And I knew that I was loved.
The album wasn’t ultimately the destination. It was the instrument God used to show me that even when I couldn’t see Him, He saw me. Looking back across my life, I can now recognize His presence in places where I once thought He was absent.
That’s the testimony He has given me: God wastes nothing. He is still in the business of redeeming lives. My story may be mine, but the glory has always belonged to God.
TRACKSTARZ: Your ministry obviously extends beyond the songs themselves. What are you currently doing outside of music to serve others and share the Gospel?
EDDIE DEVINE: Beyond music, I’ve felt increasingly called to share my testimony and the things God has taught me through my life. That calling led me to write My Story. His Glory. A Life Redeemed., along with a devotional and Bible study designed to help people examine their own story and deepen their relationship with Christ.
I’ve also begun sharing my testimony through podcasts, radio interviews, and other Christian media platforms. I’m not trying to build a ministry around myself. I’m simply trying to make myself available.
If God can use something I’ve lived through, something I’ve learned, or something He’s brought me through to encourage another person or point them toward Christ, then I want to be willing to share it. Ultimately, I see myself as a steward of the story He’s entrusted to me, and my responsibility is simply to be faithful with it.
TRACKSTARZ: So what’s next for Eddie Devine? What should people be watching for?
EDDIE DEVINE: Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what comes next, and I’ve become pretty comfortable with that.
I plan to keep writing, continue sharing my testimony wherever God opens a door, and remain open to whatever He wants to do with the songs He’s given me.
As a songwriter, I’d love to see some of these songs find their way to artists who connect with them and can bring their own voice to them. I’d also love to continue the conversations that have grown out of My Story. His Glory., whether through interviews, podcasts, speaking opportunities, or simply one-on-one conversations with people whose lives have been touched by the story.
More than anything, though, I’m trying not to get ahead of God. This entire season began with something I never expected, and it’s unfolded in ways I never could have planned. So I’m learning to hold my plans loosely, trust God with the outcomes, and simply be faithful with whatever comes next.
TRACKSTARZ: We always like to have a little fun before we wrap up. What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you since you’ve been doing music?
EDDIE DEVINE: Probably the craziest thing that’s happened to me is that after being involved in music in the late 1980s and early 1990s, I went 36 years without writing a single song. Then, in 2026, I picked up the pen again and wrote 61 songs in about two and a half months.
I went from wondering whether I could still write a song to wondering whether I could write them down fast enough. What started as a return to songwriting eventually grew into an album, a memoir, a devotional, a Bible study, and opportunities to share my testimony through podcasts and radio interviews.
Looking back, I never could have scripted any of it. That’s probably what makes it the craziest part of the story.
TRACKSTARZ: Finally, where can people connect with you, hear the music, and support what you’re doing?
EDDIE DEVINE: The best place to find me is at EddieDevineMusic.com. That’s where you can learn more about my story, listen to the music, and explore my books and other projects.
You can also connect with me on Instagram at @eddiedevinemusic.
If you’d like to support what I’m doing, the simplest ways are by listening to the music, sharing it with someone who might need to hear it, reading the books, and staying connected as this journey continues to unfold.
More than anything, I’m grateful for the encouragement, prayers, and support of people who believe God can use a song, a story, or a testimony to make a difference in someone’s life.
