Published: May 6, 2009 12:50 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight May 2009 Edition
Dean Phelps
Dean Phelps
He is an amazing Singer/Songwriter who is going to win your heart when you take a listen to his music. Dean Phelps naturally blends the sweet sound of Folk music with acoustical overture that will make you want to listen to Dean's music all day long. The final verdict is that Dean is an artist that has something for everyone. In this special feature with our Webzine, Dean speaks one on one with us about all that is music.
Isaac: How do you sum up 2008 for Dean Phelps?
Dean: It was a blessed year. I recorded and released "Give Us a Song," and fairly quickly the CD began to move well and to get positive feedback.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dean: The Indianapolis music scene really flies under the radar. We're kind of in the shadow of Chicago, and that's all right. Truth is, there are a lot of talented musicians and songwriters in Indy, and folks like Robin Coleman and Cliff Snyder are doing a great job building the local music scene. Robin is the moving force behind Segment of Society Promotions. Cliff is a talented songwriter in his own right, but he also launched the Indianapolis Songwriter's Café. Both of them have brought some excellent and well-known indie artists to Indianapolis.
Isaac: What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment for 2008?
Dean: Definitely it was "Give Us a Song". The fact that, start to finish, the record took less than six months is just amazing. We started pre-production in January, and we were celebrating the release in June. Steve Creech produced the record, and he and I were both amazed at how it fell together so easily. It's an effort that we're both very proud of.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Dean: Certainly John Prine is on the list. I relate quite a bit to the view of life that he takes in his songs, and no one can turn a phrase quite like he does, in my opinion. Prine definitely influences what I write and other songs that I record and perform. Kate Wolf, John Denver, James Taylor are other songwriters whose musical styles have influenced mine. Recently, I've been getting a lot more into thumb style guitar, so I'm picking up influences like Doc Watson, Merle Travis and Roy Book Binder.
There's a guitarist in southern Indiana, John Matsel, and he's been a big influence. He inspired me to develop my thumb style playing. Let me tell you the neat thing about John, though. He's a fabulous thumb style guitarist. He's won national competitions. He's played in Branson. He's played with Chet Atkins and a host of other known players, yet he's got this "Aw shucks" kind of humility about him. That's an inspiration to me. Do the best you can, work hard, but keep your life simple and your head in the right place.
In a different way, Amy Grant is an influence. I love the production on her last couple of albums, especially "Legacy". The sound is simple and clear, yet full and sufficient. Amy made her way in the industry as a Christian artist, and she took a lot of grief when she began recording pop tunes and releasing music to "secular" radio formats. She has always explored, tested and moved ahead with her music, yet she is unapologetically Christian. Her faith shapes everything she does. She sings about life in a very authentic way, and people come away from her music a little different without every song being explicitly about Jesus.
I appreciate that about Amy. I'm an ordained minister as well as a musician. I don't shy away from who I am, but I perform and record to entertain people, to give them something to take away. I've had venues grow cautious when they find out I'm a minister. They're concerned that my show might turn into preaching or trying to lead a worship service. My guess is they've had a bad experience or two along that line, but once they hear me, they realize I'm an ordinary guy who has a lot of fun when he plays.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Dean: What I really hope to do is continue being part of the local and regional music scene around Indianapolis and the Midwest. I am currently in a full-time ministry that provides steady income for my family. I can't wave the flag enough about the talent we have here, some of whom are gifted, young, up-and-coming artists. I've been privileged to work with several of them and hope that I can help them like so many others have helped me.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Dean: I think I'd really enjoy working with Amy Grant, but you know what I'd really like to do? I'd like to be on "A Prairie Home Companion". I don't know what Garrison Keillor would be like to work with, but the musicians he has on that show are wonderful. I'd love to play and sing with Robin and Linda Williams. My music dovetails nicely with what they do on the show, I think. A little folk, a little gospel, some old-timey music with an occasional bit of irreverence, and it's all done with top quality picking and singing.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Dean: It's a simple, acoustic sound that is very folk-influenced. I sing songs about people, life and faith. Hopefully, that reaches people in a place that feels like home. I hope that my music invites you in and makes you feel like I'm the kind of person you'd want to sit with on the front porch while we chat over coffee or iced tea.
Isaac: What is your definition for Americana Music?
Dean: It can be kind of a vague term, can't it? For me, it's the music of America's pioneer spirit, of where we've come from. Americana is American story, myth and legend. It's music that calls us to be not just a great people but also good people. It is ruggedly individualistic and sensitive to the whole human community, all at the same time.
Americana really does cover a broad spectrum. I do folk songs out of American musical heritage. That's Americana. I do original arrangements of early American hymns. That's Americana. Spirituals fall in there, too, along with blues and pre-British Invasion rock and roll. Americana may be primarily a country music or alternative country format, but it's a pretty big tent. By my definition it would have to be a pretty inclusive genre.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from your previous releases?
Dean: I recorded two CDs prior to "Give Us a Song". The first, "Going Over Home", is a collection of hymns and gospel music. The second, "This Old House", is the first recording I did with Steve Creech. We really experimented on that record and explored my various musical tastes and influences. That album covers folk, gospel, acoustic, rock, and gospel blues. For "Give Us a Song" we moved back toward my folk and singer-songwriter roots.
"Give Us a Song" is the first album that has received serious attention from radio and reviewers. Maverick Magazine did a very nice review on the record in the March 2009 issue. Russell Hill, who wrote the review, called it one of the most peaceful sounding albums he'd heard in some time. Several independent radio stations have picked up my song "If You Come up Empty" from the album for rotation. "Give Us a Song" includes "My Dog Jesus", which is a very clever, humorous and profound song, written by my friends C.J. Watson and Kurt Fortmeyer.
I was blessed to do an interview earlier this year for a one-hour radio program in Virginia that featured music from all three of my recordings.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
Dean: My web site is www.deanphelpsmusic.com. I also have a page on MySpace and Facebook. My music is on iTunes, and fans can buy CDs at CD Baby and Amazon.com.
Isaac: What can fans expect from Dean Phelps in 2009?
Dean: I'll be doing quite a few shows outside of Indiana this year, and that's new for me. I'm working on a short tour for sometime this fall. A couple of new songs are brewing, and I have several ideas for a new record, although work on a new recording project won't likely start this year. Maybe in 2010 we'll see a new Dean Phelps CD.
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans?
Dean: I have to give a shout out to Debbie, because she's the love of my life. I could not do what I do in music or in ministry without her support. So many people support me in so many ways, if I got started saying hey to them all, you wouldn't get me stopped.
Isaac: Final words from Dean Phelps…
Dean: I really appreciate the opportunity to do this interview. It's always gratifying when someone is interested in your music and wants to share it. I certainly wish you the best with Junior's Cave and other future endeavors.
