Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Deckel.
Hi Steve, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been drawn to music as a form of expression for most of my life. I grew up in the church in Kentucky, and there was a lot of hillbilly music. I appreciate it more now than I did then. There were countless lessons for piano, organ, fiddle, and guitar. In high school, I was playing with friends at one another’s homes or little cafes around Louisville. Then I moved all over, and some of those friends came with me, and sometimes I followed them. It’s nice to keep your family close to you.
For a lot of that, I was the side man/utility player, not usually up front. I was playing bass and mandolin a lot. But periodically I would have an opportunity to share my own work. I’d bring the guitar out and bare my soul. I made a conscious decision around 2019 to focus on my own creative interests. Then the world shut down. I spent a lot of that time writing and reflecting, learning about home recording, and using technology as a songwriting tool to maintain my focus. Then, as things began to open up, there was the cover band. Never thought I would enjoy it, but it was a lot of fun.
My family and I moved to Austin in 2021. I wanted to immerse myself in the culture of musicians here for a sense of community and opportunities to sing and play. I had to be intentional. I’ve met some of the kindest people, and found that everyone is looking for that sense of community – people that are making a living, some just scraping by, and folks who just want to express themselves. It’s been lovely and I’m here for it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There’s always a bit of heartache in any labor of love. Musicians, most artists I think, are subtly self-conscious and feel like they have to prove themselves. The psychology of it can get pretty messy. Everyone has an off night that they can tend to focus on. Imposter syndrome runs wild in these parts. One of the toughest things, I think, is playing for folks who aren’t engaged. They’ve worked all week, or they’ve been through a rough period, and they just want to be with their friends and have a drink. I totally get it, and that becomes part of the job, But I’m not a human jukebox. I try to cultivate an atmosphere of connection. Whether it’s a set or an open mic, I try to connect with at least one person. I’ve been told to shut up and play, but I’ve found that owning your humanity can lead to some really sweet interactions. And we’re back to the need for community.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At heart, I’m a singer/songwriter. Out in the wild, I play a guitar and tell stories. I’m probably known as the most depressing guy in the room because of what I’m singing about most of the time. People are usually surprised that I’m generally happy and well adjusted. Generally. I had a priest once tell me that I was his priest. I think that may be my niche, in the sense of caring for people and confession. I think I’m okay with that. I want there to be a sense of welcoming people into a space: all their baggage and frustrations and their joys, as well – we’ve all got them. Everyone wants to know they’re not alone. There’s something that happens when we let our guard down, and one instance that is as clear to me now as the day it happened. A woman came up to me after I finished a set. She hugged me and said thank you. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes, and then I could feel the same thing in mine. Those are the moments that mean the most to me.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s anybody’s guess. Something has to give, because it is untenable for most musicians. We don’t have rock stars like we used to, which is fine, we have brands. For artists, that feels like we have to stick with one thing. I would like that not to be the case. And maybe I’m wrong, but that’s my knee-jerk response.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steve_deckel_music/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevedeckelmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEe5UAlaH6fuz5Yb_sk3ATw
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/steve-deckel/1670567560
Image Credits
John Stevens
John Stevens
Steve Deckel
Steve Deckel
Randy Hill
