Professional touring & session bassist with major-stage experience, a deep pocket, and song-first musicianship. Credits include Lloyd, Jagged Edge & Chandra Currelley. From R&B and soul to funk, jazz, pop & gospel, I bring feel, versatility, and intention to every record. Let's make your music move. 🎸
I’m DEVv. (Devron Ard), a professional touring and session bassist, musical director, recording artist, and educator based in Atlanta with roots in Memphis. My approach is simple: serve the song, lock into the pocket, and give every record exactly what it needs.
My professional experience includes performing with Lloyd, Jagged Edge, and Chandra Currelley, along with touring, studio sessions, festivals, live productions, and artist collaborations.
I specialize in R&B, soul, funk, jazz, pop, gospel, blues, and genre-blending music, bringing a strong pocket, musical sensitivity, versatility, and intentional choices to every session. Whether you need a bass line created from scratch, an existing idea brought to life, or multiple approaches to choose from, I listen closely to your vision before I ever start playing.
You can expect professional communication, clean recordings, thoughtful performances, and a collaborative experience from beginning to final delivery.
I don’t believe in playing the most notes—I believe in playing the right ones.
Let’s make your record move. 🎸
Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Credits
Interview with DEVv.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: One experience I'm especially proud of was touring as a bassist with Lloyd and Jagged Edge on the 2025 Cuffing Season Tour. My role required more than learning bass parts—it meant being prepared night after night, supporting the artist, locking in with the band, adapting to the live environment, and helping deliver a consistent show across the tour. Experiences like that reinforced what I value most as a musician: serve the music, serve the artist, and serve the moment.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm continuing to develop my work as DEVv. while recording, performing, collaborating with other artists, and expanding my work as a professional bassist, musical director, and educator. I'm especially interested in projects that allow me to bring those different sides of my musicianship together.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. I'm more interested in what serves the record than choosing sides. Analog can bring character and warmth, while digital gives us incredible flexibility and efficiency. If it sounds good and supports the music, I'm with it.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will respect your music, your vision, and your time. I'll come prepared, communicate professionally, and approach your project with the same level of care I'd want someone to bring to my own music.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love connection. There's a moment when the musicians lock together and the song suddenly feels alive—that's what keeps me doing this. Whether it's a studio session, a stage, or a classroom, music gives me an opportunity to connect with people.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: “Can you play this style?” My answer is usually: send me the record. I don't approach music by forcing one signature bass line onto everything. I listen to the music first and determine what that particular song needs.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That a professional bassist's job is simply to play bass notes. A great bass part requires listening, understanding harmony and rhythm, locking with the drums, supporting the vocal, controlling dynamics, choosing the right tone, and knowing when not to play.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: I want to know the vision for the song, what references they have, what they want the bass to accomplish, their timeline, deliverables, and whether there's an existing bass idea they'd like me to follow or if they want me to create freely.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Look for someone who listens to your vision before trying to impress you with their playing. The right musician should understand that they're being hired to make your record better, not to turn your record into their audition.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A great bass, a reliable DI, a tuner, a comfortable pair of headphones, and something to record ideas with. Give me those five things and I'll find a way to make some music.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: My journey started in Memphis and eventually led me to Alabama A&M University, where I earned my B.A. in Music Performance studying double bass. Since then, I've built a career across professional performance, touring, recording, musical direction, and six years of music education, including opportunities to perform with artists such as Lloyd, Jagged Edge, and Chandra Currelley.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Groove-centered, soulful, versatile, and intentional. I like playing with personality, but I never want my playing to distract from the artist or the song. The goal is always to make the music feel better.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Lucky Daye. His music combines soul, R&B, strong musicianship, and modern production in a way that leaves room for a bass player to contribute creatively while still serving the record.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't add something just because there's space for it. Every part should have a purpose. Sometimes removing a note, simplifying a rhythm, or leaving space can make a record groove harder than adding another layer.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I work heavily in R&B, soul, funk, jazz, pop, gospel, blues, and music that blends those worlds. I enjoy projects where groove and feel are important, but I'm comfortable adapting my approach to the artist and production.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill is adaptability. I can step into different genres, artist situations, and musical environments while maintaining a strong pocket and understanding my role within the music.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Pocket, feel, musicality, and intention. I want the bass to connect the rhythm and harmony while giving the song exactly what it needs. Sometimes that means a memorable bass line; sometimes the best choice is staying simple and making the groove feel incredible.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I start by listening, not playing. I learn the song, understand the artist or producer's vision, and pay attention to the drums, vocals, arrangement, and overall feel. From there, I build a bass part that supports the record, record clean takes, and make adjustments based on client feedback.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My setup is designed to give clients clean, professional bass tracks with flexibility in tone and sound. I can work with different basses, tones, and approaches depending on the record, and I prioritize capturing a strong, usable performance that fits naturally into the production.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I’m inspired by musicians who understand that great playing is about feel, taste, and serving the music. Bassists like James Jamerson, Pino Palladino, Marcus Miller, and Thundercat inspire me because each has such a recognizable voice while still knowing how to support the song.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Most of my work involves recording bass for artists, producers, and songwriters, as well as preparing music for live performances and touring. I focus on giving each song the right pocket, tone, feel, and musical choices rather than simply adding more notes.
