10 Quick Ones with CHRISTOPHER DEAN – April 2018

According to a recent press release: “New Jersey based rock / metal multi-instrumentalist Christopher Dean (Michale Graves, Darkness Descends, Alyxx) has released his official lyric video for the single “Everything Fades,” off of his debut album, Life Lessons. “’Everything Fades’ is a song about Love and Loss and yet the World still turns.” Christopher Dean”  We get Christopher to discuss new music, influences, and more in our 10 Quick Ones…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Everything fades was a starting point for me many years ago. originally the song was written by an old band mate of mine,  Jared Saizdelamora. it was a dual male vocal and piano piece, and as awesome as it was, it was SUPER depressing, although rich with a hook, the piano was struck in such a way that you could feel the deep dark heartbreak within every drop of the hand, that being said, I didn’t want the end of the party song when it came time to track it, I wanted to make sure that even when people realize that everything that the knew has faded, that you can use that as an excuse to conquer new grounds and fulfill yourself with new experiences and accomplishments. In the end, my message is intended to express that we all lose things, and yet the world turn, and life finds a way to make you happy again.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

On the eve of my 13th birthday, my father bought me a midnight blue (almost purple) Ibanez RX40 with a blond headstock, a white pickguard, and a whammy bar. I opened the box outside in the dark with only the headlights of the car to see and the second I felt that maple neck in my hands, I knew RIGHT THEN, before I could even tune the damn thing, that I was gonna do this forever. That guitar is STILL the main piece in my arsenal of axes.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

My main 5 (7) musical influences would have to be, Trent Reznor, John 5 (and his associated work), Meshuggah, Eddie Van Halen, and EVERY Swedish guitar player! I have to also add Willy Nelson and Elvis!!

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

The collaboration of my dreams would probably be With Trent Reznor, I can honestly say that that mans music has played over 1/2 of the total hours I have been alive on a playlist somewhere in my bubble, even in my head!

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

“This album is so near and dear to my heart. Each track is a different journey down the rabbit hole of another Life Lesson I was lucky enough to learn the hard way because I myself prefer the road less traveled, for it is only on those paths that we are lucky enough to experience Emotion colliding with Inspiration while tumbling in the Imagination of our minds. As musicians, it is our duty to bring those experiences to life through our art. “Life Lessons” is like a psychological fall and rise again emotional journey mixed with punk rock, blast beats and a 7 string.”

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Being a musician is honestly pretty hard, but I would have to say the best part is having a unique voice to be able to paint and collaborate with alongside other souls on a similar path. it’s very fulfilling, even when you get a bad review or something, just look for the ways to improve if you believe that opinion holds water and write the next one. also, I believe musicians have a higher level of learning due to increased brain activity, so, I have learned how to teach myself entirely new fields of knowledge just because I could somehow relate it to music.

7. When the band is all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I always have a guitar with me 24/7, even if I have to cause a stink at the airport gate lol, but seriously, my acoustic “Daisy” comes with me everywhere I can bring her and because I always around other musicians, there’s no telling what songs shell inspire. My drummer Zaki Ali is very laid back and calculated but he also really knows how to inspire me on songs and in the studio. It was basically just me and him that did the album together. Now we’re working on a NEW RECORD called Ocean of Storms. Its a 3 EP series, I will be releasing 5 songs at a time over the next year or so, and in the middle of that “Life Lessons Acoustic” somewhere…

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

If I wasn’t a musician I guess I would do my best to either work in a museum or a planetarium somewhere. I am obsessed with knowledge of how things are, and how things were, and how it all works!!!!! and what does it all mean?

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

Well since there is no such thing as a do-over, I guess I tend to just roll with the punches. I’ve been through it all, from love and loss to death and divorce and the truth is, its all a necessary part of the journey. It’s not what you wish that you could change that makes you a man, its what you do in the face of disaster the pushes you toward your destiny, if that’s what you choose to do that is.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

If I could be a part of and studio session, I would have to say, Metallica And Justice for All and I would turn up the bass!!!!! “And Justice for Jason” look it up… if that album came out back then, it would have blown people away even more.  Every song just sounds so much better when you can hear ALL instruments, who would have thought…… the term Newsteading would have a completely different meaning…..haha!

CHRISTOPHER DEAN  LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

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Category: Interviews