Decorations

Founded by songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Devon Geyer, the indie pop project Decorations reflects its creator’s characterization of the sound as “new wave without all the sadness.” North Hollywood, California, provided both birthplace and upbringing for Geyer, whose musical aptitude surfaced early. At four he began selecting melodies on acoustic guitar, and by twelve he was joining his father’s blues band for weekend performances. Songwriting started at fourteen, at which point he assembled a basic home studio to document his widening range of eclectic material. Four D.I.Y. albums appeared under the Clark! name, and he additionally recorded and produced several independent releases for other local musicians. At seventeen Geyer received a scholarship to Boston’s Berklee College of Music. After graduation he participated in various Boston-area groups, including Tea Not War, This Is How Rumors Get Started, and the Anymen, yet none gained momentum, so he eventually returned to California. With his professional path stalled, his personal life unsettled after a breakup, and no functioning car, Geyer wrote songs that captured his own low spirits and those of many friends. He began uploading the material online as Decorations, which led Frenchkiss Records to take notice. In September 2015 the label issued the debut Decorations EP, Girls, a three-song collection that attracted widespread attention and favorable coverage. The first Decorations full-length album, Have Fun, appeared in June 2016.