ANZIO Digital An Interview With Musician Brandon Decker

by Christa Brunori LincsMag Writer.
Date: 01 May 2011

An Interview With Musician Brandon Decker - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com

The following interview by LincsMag Writer, Christa Brunori, with Arizona musician, Brandon Decker, was conducted on 3rd February 2011.


For those who may not be familiar with your music, how would you describe your unique style?

We call it Psychedelic-pirate-folk-whiteboy-gospel. I don't think that anyone wants to put their work into some sort of silly alternative, or something like that. We tell people it's Psychedelic-pirate-folk-whiteboy-gospel, because it's something unique. At least in my performance that is pretty accurate as to what it is. We've got some psychedelic stuff goin' on, we've got some pirate stuff goin' on, we've got some folk goin' on, and we've got some white boy gospel goin' on! I've been calling my music 'White Boy Gospel' for awhile. It has the organs and the choirs, and all these really cool themes and stuff like that. So, white boy gospel is how I feel about it.

They are just my songs. All my songs are an honest thing. That's what I've got going for me.

Looking back at your first song debut, what are your thoughts of that particular tune now?

The first time I played out was terrible! I was really nervous and it was while I was in college in Flagstaff, AZ. They had this really crowded Open Mic night and I was probably about twenty-four, the first time I was going play an original song and a couple of covers. There must've been about eighty people in there, which is a lot! I've never really been nervous before, but I must've over shot the bar. I mean I crashed and burned! It was humiliating! Just humiliating! Terrible! But, then a few years later, I worked up the courage.

It was very hard for me after that, to learn how to. Because I thought I sucked. Which has been a common theme for me in my music because I either think I'm brilliant or I think, like... I suck! I go through it all the time. We play with a lot of really talented people and it's easy to compare. There's always someone you're gonna compare yourself to and think "I'm not there yet." The 'I suck' feature helps me work harder! So, I'm glad I have it.

Someone gave me a really good compliment the other night after watching us, and said that he could just tell, that we've had a lot of good shows and a lot of bad shows. He could tell we've been through all the bad, and we have. I've gone on four tours now and it's completely different than playing around in front of friends. You're going out to strangers and no one has a reason or need to like you or approve of you or accept your music. It changes everything. It changes how you play and you have to learn how to present your art for your forty-five minutes when it's compelling. Sometimes you compel and sometimes you don't.

How has your style evolved over the years?

Well, I think I'm finding my own style. When I was first writing songs I think I was just writing by who I was influenced by at the time. I was trying to do a lot of acoustic metal and screaming ALL the time! So I think I'm getting a style now and have two records done and am proud of. I think now I'm confident being me.

I used to play a lot of covers and that was how I taught myself music. And what I realized is; so long as I'm not trying to write a song that people are going to like because of its beat or people are going to like because I say something; as long as I write a song that's me, that is from a genuine spot... those songs are so much better than any cover I can do. That's my style. My style is, putting myself out on the table.

How or where do you find ideas for your songs?

An Interview With Musician Brandon Decker - Lincolnshire Magazine - LincsMag.com

It depends. I've always been very interested in the way life is and how we see it and how we deal with people and how life is in relationships and hurt and joy and boredom.

All of it, the good and the bad. Ultimately, I think it always leaves you a little longing.

And the way you always fancy how it could be. Utopian. Loving to each other. Money would not be ruining us and controlling our lives. We could be free to be ourselves and get rid of our egos.

The way it is and the way it could be... in there... in that gap... there's just a cauldron of stuff.

Which musicians, past or present, have left a lasting impression on you?

Louis Armstrong, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Jack White, Cat Power, Dustin Hamman with the band Run On Sentence.

What influence in the industry of music, would you like for your work to leave?

If I could just leave any influence! Right now where we're at, is just trying to be heard. I'd say over a thousand of my albums are out there across some portion of the country. In terms of my legacy, it's just gotta keep growing.

Within the locations you've either lived or visited, which particular place left the most substantial notion on your music?

Being in the desert. Honestly, I've had a few people tell me it's desert music and I feel like the music that we play seems like it should come from Arizona. The music that I write, it feels like Arizona to me.

When it comes to touring, what is the most memorable moment of your travels?

We went to this small town in Colorado to see my cousin. I hadn't seen her in a long while, and she's like a sister to me. We'd just come out of this mountain portion of our tour. She put on a house party and we put on a little show for all her friends. Afterwards, we all went out to eat. And we were at the restaurant until about two in the morning and when we walked out it had snowed! We decided to walk home. It was those big flakes, ya know?! And we were just kinda holding each other, 'cause I love her so much and the snow was coming down and so beautiful! I hadn't seen snow for probably two years. And we just walked home in the middle of the street. The band was behind us and with the snow fall and moon, it was a touching and powerful moment.

But we had a lot of good times on tour! And bad! But, eh.

Upon observation, what do you hope for the audience to take away from your lyrics?

I hope that they have an emotional impact. I just hope that there's something there that gives them hope, just for the sheer fact that someone else can bring the words to what they feel.

What is the proudest moment in your career, thus far?

I think just having done what we've done so far. The night we had a CD release was pretty epic for me. But when I'm not holding huge goals ahead, and I can reflect on the fact that we've played all over and sold cd's and people were listening to it. I remember when I first put up a Myspace page with music, and twelve people had listened to the song. And I was like, "Twelve people have listened to my song!?" It's come a long way and hopefully it continues to go a long a way.

Recently, you released the exhilarating album, "long as the night," and currently are touring to promote it. what is the meaning behind the title?

Well it's funny how it ended up because the first album was called 'Long Days' and it was this black with white offset sort of thing, and it just happened. I mean, what do you call an album?

We were puzzling over lines from the newest album. And the guy playing organ on the album said, "long as the night." And I was like, "Yeah!" It was fitting. And then it was cool cause we had 'Long Days' and 'Long as the Night' and the second album was white with black. It worked out perfectly. And it's a line from the song, A Waltz, 'as long as the night.'

Lastly, how might those with an interest, learn more about your music?

They can search me over the Internet at deckermusic.org. Or visit myspace.com/brandondecker and mescalporchrecords.com

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