The Making of Brit Frisco: New Music, Old Soul - Part 2
By Diona Devincenzi, Songwriter, Producer, Artist
Q: What was your inspiration behind songs like “Make It Yours” and “Lights Down Low”?
Diona Devincenzi (DD): Those two musical ideas came from Paul—he sent the demos over to me for top-line writing, so I’ll let him take the lead on that.
Paul Cufflin (PC): I'm a huge fan of the Memphis Sound, especially the records coming out of Stax in the '60s and early '70s, along with the soul and R&B coming out of New Orleans at the time. The records Allen Toussaint made down there, for example, have had a big influence on my approach.
Q: What’s different, in your mind, about these new tunes compared to previous Brit Frisco releases? What remains consistent?
DD: There’s nothing drastically different about our process—it’s been consistent across albums, EPs, and singles. We’re signed with a publisher who works closely with ad agencies, and they asked if we could create something with a more lyrically positive tone. That kind of request can sometimes feel limiting artistically. I believe artists should always start from an authentic place and think about the pitch afterward. But when you can find the sweet spot between commercial viability and personal expression, that’s where the magic happens.
PC: I’d say the biggest difference in these tracks is the sonic direction—we leaned further into a '60s southern soul vibe. I tried to steer the production away from modern polish and go for warmer tones, using more tape saturation, especially on the drums. Whether or not I pulled it off is up for debate, but the intention was to push deeper into that vintage aesthetic.
Q: Who are some of your musical influences behind this new music? Any current contemporaries you admire in this space?
DD: Our sound is definitely rooted in the old Stax and Motown traditions. Artists like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and The Meters laid the foundation. As for more recent artists, we’re really inspired by Leon Bridges, Nathaniel Rateliff, Anderson East, The Heavy, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Amy Winehouse, and The Arcs. They seem to be pulling from the same wells of inspiration that we are.
PC: I love the entire roster at Daptone Records—Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley, The Frightnrs, The Budos Band, and The James Hunter Six. Their whole analog, in-house production style is phenomenal. I’m also a fan of Leon Bridges, Ephemerals, Nick Waterhouse, Monophonics, Orgone, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, The Bamboos, Lady Wray, and Durand Jones & The Indications. There’s a real movement happening in retro-inspired soul and R&B, and it’s exciting to be part of that conversation.
Q: What does “retro soul” mean to you—in a few words?
DD: That’s a deep and interesting question. For me, retro soul is about drawing from the history, artistry, and songwriting of the past and merging that with today’s sonic tools to create something fresh and current. “Soul” is not just a genre; it’s a feeling. Musically, it’s about sitting behind the beat, living in the groove, and expressing something raw and emotional from deep within.
PC: Raw, earthy, organic, heartfelt soul and R&B—just like mama used to make.