A Dirty Dozen with DEREAK MESSER of MESSER – February 2022

According to a recent press release: “The MESSER Machine is fired up once again with another positive energy-driven song, “Hope In This World.” “Hope In This World” is the newest creation from this modern rock power house known for their catchy hooks and high energy live performances. With 3 top 25 active rock singles, MESSER is poised to raise the bar even higher. Re-energized and focused, MESSER is ready to deliver an experience that goes beyond the music. The band’s cutting-edge modern rock sound was born through serendipitous connections in the thriving Deep Ellum music scene of Dallas, an area that has given rise to iconic Hard Rock and Metal bands like Pantera, Drowning Pool, Hell Yeah, and King’s X.” We get frontman and band namesake Dereak to discuss new music, influences, and more…

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?

Our latest single is called “Hope in this World” and it speaks to the desperation we’ve all felt these past two years. We feel this is the message that we all need to hear right now.  Everyone needs Hope and we know that if we all spread some positivity that it can grow.  I feel this is a straightforward message, but I would say to pay attention to the guitar solo. It’s pretty special.

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

I remember being exposed to music at a very young age as my father was also a singer and I remember him playing his acoustic guitar and singing to me. I remember how it made me feel and that I wanted to sing.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I was exposed to stuff that my older siblings were listening to so I would listen to everything from KISS to The Beach Boys and even old country.  But I think when I discovered The Doors, I really knew that style of music spoke to me.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Jim Morrison, Alice Cooper, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, and Phil Collins.

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

It would be cool to do a song with Jerry Cantrell.  I’ve sang with him before, but it was more of a drunken jam at that time lol. But I’ve always loved his songwriting and his choice of harmonies.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Modern rock with deeper messages that will move you emotionally and physically. We don’t really get a lot of comparisons to other bands, maybe due to my vocal style thankfully.

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

Being able to speak from your soul and have that affect people emotionally and hearing them tell you your music helps them get through their day.

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

Well cooking is definitely one of my passions, but Kenny loves to cook as well. He’s also our resident Canadian and knows his way around some drinks lol. As far as sing-a-longs, we have a lot of downtime on tour and Maddox always has our acoustics out and love to break out cover songs we kinda know lol.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

I’d say Slash.  We got to be main support for him at a casino and having him sit there and watch our show standing by my son who was there was really a moment I’ll never forget.

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

Well I started a custom knife company called Two Headed Dog Knife Works during the lockdown with a friend of mine that I’ve known since 8th grade and his wife.  It’s a lot of fun and I always look forward to it when we aren’t touring.

11. 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”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Well I signed a record deal when I was younger with Columbia Records by the A/R guy who had signed Alice In Chains and we got to record an album with Matt Hyde, but due to label politics it never was released, but I’ve been blessed to have a second go around with my amazing band MESSER, so I don’t think I would change a thing. Each moment has been an amazing journey and I can’t wait to see where we are this time next year.

12. 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?

The Doors self-titled album. So many great songs and memories attached to that album that I just feel great whenever I listen to it.

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Category: Interviews