A wannabe muse writing rock-and-roll reviews
About Real Life Layla
About Me
I’m Abigail Devoe. I'm 25 years old, and am currently based out of the northeast United States.
I graduated from a small liberal arts college in 2021, where I studied art history and film. Being an art historian means you’re not the one making the art. Instead, you write about the guys who made the art. You get into their heads the way few others do, becoming a groupie to their legacy. Being so close to all that creativity inspired me. After writing for so long, I just couldn't stop.
My creative outlet became this blog: Real Life Layla, and my flagship series Vinyl Monday. What started as 30-second clips on Instagram reels became the long-form Vinyl Monday: part classic rock history, part classic album review. Now, those reviews are here for your reading pleasure - and to be a more formal resume for my writing.
So is Unveiling the Legends: Dolls of the 60s and 70s - or simply the Dolls Podcast. This is the show I co-host with content creator Emma Rosa Katharina. Together, we're dedicated to showcasing the lives and careers of women icons of the 1960s and 70s; from musicians and fashion icons to activists and tastemakers.
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Real Life Layla is an extension of my inner world, just as much as preserves rock-and-roll history. Roll up to the mystery tour, get experienced, come join this long strange trip. Maybe kick out some jams while you're at it. It's all welcome here.
About The Art
The original Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs album art is La Jeune Fille Au Bouquet by French painter Theodore Frandsen (1902-1969.) According to the official Christie's auction site listing, in August 1970, Derek and the Dominos were in the south of France for the ill-fated Popanalia festival. (French revolutionaries burned the stage!) After an egg fight at the artist's farm house, Theodore's son Emile showed the band to his father's studio. This is where Eric first saw the painting: a platinum blonde woman with red lips and one exaggerated cat eye, her face partially obscured by a white bouquet in blue paper. Eric immediately noted the painting's resemblance to his muse at the time - and his best friend's wife - Pattie Boyd. The original Layla edit (top left) was found on an Eric Clapton online forum.
The original Layla edit (top right) is by LA-based photographer and artist Daniel Warholy. It was made in late 2021.
Version 2 (bottom left) is by me, from August 2022. To commemorate the Vinyl Monday season 3 finale (a Layla album review redux) and the revamped Real Life Layla site, I remade the edit one more time (bottom right.)
