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Today we’d like to introduce you to Dean Nelson.

Dean, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in a house that didn’t listen to very much music. It wasn’t footloose bad, but it was close. I say that with love towards my sweet parents, they just wanted to protect their kids from the world. I recall pushing search on the radio; I must have been about eight at the time, I heard Stephen Tyler singing, I remember turning to my Dad and laughing, “What is this?” It wasn’t until I was twelve years old that I was introduced to anything popular. My cousin with insomnia came over, I also couldn’t sleep, and I heard a noise downstairs. My cousin was watching “Any Given Thursday” which is a live concert DVD of a young John Mayer playing.

I was instantly obsessed. Here was someone talking to a crowd of people, they were all listening so closely. There was a real sense of connection there, that same connection I craved, but that I couldn’t articulate. I spent the next few months begging my parents to let me get a guitar. The pretty girl next door loved guys that played guitar; the girl left, the guitar stayed (a pattern that would repeat throughout my life). I didn’t have many songs to play, not until my crafty little brother cracked the passcode to VH1, we spent every night watching music videos and consistently having our minds blown. I remember watching/hearing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and almost vomiting from excitement. I didn’t know music could sound like that.

I started writing songs with my cousin, he lived across the country at the time. We would call each other up at night, “Did you hear that new king of Leon song? What do you think about the Daughtry album? I love that Slash guitar solo!” We wrote songs before falling asleep the guitar at the end of the bed. We eventually caught the same break anyone will catch if they ask around enough. We got to play our show. It went well, and it didn’t. If you have ever played a show, you know how that goes. But I was hooked, I couldn’t wait to get back up on stage and try it again, and again, and again. I had spent many weekend nights writing and playing songs in my bedroom; now it was finally time for my routine to be witnessed. I began playing anywhere they would let me play, as often and as long as they would let me play. This lead tours across the west and eventually got me a plane trip to Europe where I was fortunate to play where some of my idols have played. I played these songs that meant something to me at one time or another. A story of a girl who had stolen a heart, the boy who spent years chasing her down to get it back. I wrote and sang about small moments that I felt only I noticed. I yelled, and I whispered, I still do. I want to make that connection one more time, to stand on stage and read someone’s mind, to sing the same words at the same time. It’s a particularly special thing.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I​ didn’t start writing music to be understood, or find common ground with others. I wrote because every time I began to write it felt like I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. I have thought that this might be destiny or fate before. But I guess it just means I have a lot of fun doing this. I think it’s essential to have this kind of awareness. If you love doing something, take note that you like to do it, then take every opportunity to do that thing you love! Honestly, this is common sense, but I’m always surprised to see how many people don’t follow through with this. No wonder you are depressed, you don’t do what you love. I’m not just saying you have to do this to make money, I mean that’s the dream, isn’t it? But if it were really about making money, you would know it. If it’s really about making money, then go do something that you know will make you a lot of money. I’ve heard a lot of talented musicians that don’t make a dime. Just being talented really has nothing to do with what we term as “success.”

You know when you read Hemingway, and you think, “Man, I never thought of it like that before.” You think that because of his voice in the text. He died in ’61, and we are still talking about his voice. He wrote books, and we’re still talking about the way his voice sounded, the way his voice told the story. That’s what interests me in writing music. Not in hearing my singing voice, the inflection in my view isn’t anything special. No, I mean in saying something a certain way. Some songs are expected to be catchy. Pom Pom and Half-Stack were written to draw a person closer. Colorblind, Not This Time, before… those songs we made to create to tell a story. Not to change the world, not to win someone back, not to sell me and add some streams to count. I just wanted to hear a sound come from my pen. An artist is really just someone who observes and then tells or shows someone what the saw. That could be with a pen, or a brush, or with notes.

I​ have tried to sell myself with my music, and people aren’t buying. I get it. Now I’m making this because I love to make it. Because I see things and it just comes out. Is that cathartic? Maybe, I’ve stopped focusing on that though. I’m just fascinated by the process. I recently got that back, and I hope it doesn’t leave me again. It’s prevalent when you start, songwriting becomes commonplace after a while. What a tragedy that is! It comes in waves, I’m just riding that peak right now.

How can artists connect with other artists?
Yes! Come on down to Sozo’s, perform at the open mic nights. Many artists (myself included) have a hard time connecting with the scene. I have to remind myself that when I feel like this to evaluate what I’m doing.

Am I going to shows that I don’t perform in?
Am I consuming music that isn’t mine?
Am I writing these artists I love often and seeking collaboration, or at the very least telling them I dig what they do?

No, no, … and no.

Ok, well there’s my problem! I’m not being active in the community. To get fans, you have to be a fan. This is what we love doing. I’m not sure why it’s so hard to go do it often?

I feel that most artists trick themselves into thinking they’ve done all they can for the day by simply posting something on Facebook or Instagram that day. If you’re doing what a twelve-year-old is doing (and less than they are doing, since they post at least three times a day) you’re really not doing anything.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I am still relatively new to the scene. I have a residency at Sozo Coffeehouse in Chandler off of Alma School and Warner. It’s become one of my favorite places in the world. I love that place! Every second and fourth Thursday of the month I play for a couple hours. I have started collaborating with other artists from the valley, having them come to play a few songs, sometimes we play together. The whole thing is such a great scene, I love it. You guys have to come to check it out sometime! And I would love to have any other artist come to perform with me, I’m really looking to start building a great community where we’re all at each other shows and digging on each other’s music. Everything is interchangeable and fluid. Like how I imagine Seattle in the 90’s was! That stuff interests me more than breaking or getting some bullshit record deal.

If you’re looking to come to have a place to perform and have people who really LOVE music, DM me or swing by Sozo’s, I’m usually there!

I have my music on Spotify and apple music, so for any of those folks who don’t want to drive and have the time of your life being entertained, check out the songs there!

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Lance Nelson

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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