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08.18.03
Dean Fields is quickly gaining popularity in the
music world. His emotionally honest lyrics and melodic
voice coupled with unique acoustic guitar strums are
turning heads across the country. Read on to learn more
about this emerging artist.
 So,
Dean, hook us up with the latest details. You’re touring
the south like crazy! How is the tour going? How is
life on the road?
Life on the road is mostly just that, on the road.
But I love it. It’s well worth it when you finally get
on stage. A big chunk of the recent dates were done
with some or all of the members of my band and that
makes for a pretty fun time.
How has the response to Imitations been?
I wrote and recorded Imitations without even thinking
about the response it might get. So, its all a welcome
surprise when folks dig it. And they really have. My
fanbase continues to grow in strides every day, gig,
and city. I certainly can not complain. Because of the
sincerity of the album, people are feeling a very real
connection with it. And that is the greatest compliment
to receive as an artist — that folks are connecting
with it on that deep personal level.
I read on your website that MTV has picked up Imitations.
Are they planning on using it on the Real World or Road
Rules?
Yeah. That is the plan. I am still unsure of when
and in what capacity the songs will be used. But, I
am pretty stoked to hear the chanting voices of "Irish
Bars" while 2 chicks get down and dirty on sorority
life. At least that is how I would do it.
Wow, I wish I’d seen that episode. For your song,
not the girls. Anyways, how long have you been playing?
Did you ever take any vocal lessons?
I have been playing since I was about 14. But my music
was a very private thing until I had almost graduated
from high school. I started letting people know what
I was up to but on a very small scale. No one knew I
was writing. Then I went to college and became a composition
major. I really wanted to write for film. The songs
started taking shape and I just started booking shows
here and there to play out a bit. No vocal lessons though.
I totally learned how to sing through other people criticism
and listening to a lot of music. My voice has taken
a long time for me to get used to. I have had to learn
what I could do and what I couldn't do. And then focus
on my strengths and work on what wasn't so good.
 What
do you like best about your music?
It is not easily categorized. If I decided to make
a strictly rock record or a country western record,
no one would be that surprised because I write with
a lot of different influences. It gives me a lot of
flexibility to follow my muse without boundaries.
Your lyrics are so emotionally charged! How do you
come up with such poignant lyrics? Are a lot of the
songs based on personal experiences?
Everything is personal. Every line, every little detail
comes from the most deeply personal emotions I was feeling
while writing this record. It is the rawest description
of what I was dealing with personally. I had something
to say, and I wanted it to go for the jugular. Songs
like "anymore" and "in and out"
came about with no rewrites. They just came “stream
of consciousness”.
So personally, you left graduate school in Miami
for Boston. How has the music scene in Boston shaped
you? Do you still have a strong fan base in the south?
Being in Boston forced me to delve completely into
making this career move work. I had no backup plan.
I knew basically no one. So it was either do this, or
don't do it. Nothing in between. And, that has really
shaped the way I have developed my career so far. Regarding
the south: I tour extensively down south. I grew up
in RIchmond, VA, went to college in WIlliamsburg, VA,
moved to Nashville, TN, and went to graduate school
at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida. My family
and friends are all down south. And most of my fanbase
is down south. I love the south.
 Which
comes first – the tune or the lyrics? Which do you personally
like better – live sessions or studio recording? Why?
It depends on the song. Sometimes the words come first
as in "Each Every One." Sometimes the music
comes first like in "Irish Bars." Or they
both come about at the same time like "Run"
and "Anymore." I don't really expect to have
it happen a certain way. They come to be at their own
time in their own way.
As far as live vs. studio...Different animals. I can
say that I love the experience of a live show. Never
the same. The response is direct and immediate. And
as an egomaniac I really love that. But there is also
something to be said about working on a song in the
studio until the conception is realized fully. The studio
gives the opportunity to try things a number of different
ways and redo what doesn't work. So, I guess I haven't
really answered that question, but that's all I got.
That’s okay. So where do you see your musical skills
taking you?
I want to continue to make music. This is what I am
good at, and I have just gotten started. I want to work
with some of my heroes and become a hero to others as
well. I have a mark to make.
 Congratulations
on being selected as one of the six finalists to perform
at 3rd and Lyndsley in Nashville TN on July 31st for
the Independent Music World Series, Southeast Region.
How was that?
Nashville was a blast. I love going home to see my
folks in Nashville and catch up with the fans there.
The IMWS was a great opportunity to showcase for a lot
of the industry and get some feedback. And I really
enjoyed the other 5 acts that were selected. My friend
and bassist Curtis Fye came out as well and we really
performed well. All in all a great show. And another
chance to bring this to a new level.
What else can we expect from you in the coming months?
New songs, more shows, new album. I am working on
the demos for the new songs this summer. A lot of them
are making into the live shows and getting a good response.
So we shall see...
I can’t wait to see what you come up with for the
new album. Keep us posted and thanks for taking the
time to talk to us!
For more visit: www.deanfields.com
Interviewed by Kristen
Fischer
DiscoveringArtists.com
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