HEY IF YOU WANY MP3'S OFF MY YEAH NAH CD EMAIL ME AND ILL SEND EM TO YA 4 FREE, murrayz@clear.net.nz.
Born in Taranaki, New Zealand and moved down to Manakau, Horowhenua in the lower north island at the age of 5. Brought up a farmer’s son with a musical interest that started with piano lessons, which were traded in for self-taught guitar. With influence’s from Deep Purple, Neil Young, the Beatles, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Splitenz and more recently Ryan Adams to name only a few. During a strike while working at the freezing works he teamed up with good friend Tura Rata and hit the streets busking, playing a blend of Country, Blues and Folk. Naming themselves “Road Works” after all the traveling, the pair played the streets of many towns around New Zealand. Drummer Brent Gemmel joined the team to form ‘the Gravel Slappers” and they continued to play the streets also playing pubs with a unique all acoustic style. With a young family Dean retreated from the music scene for around fifteen years working many different jobs as well as unemployment and developing a political bent combined with a love of the natural world, growing food, organics, and community. Building a rammed earth house with family and friends that he now lives in and producing a lot of his own meat, fruit and veggies grown on his small lifestyle farm in the southern Horowhenua Dean is a self titled “shed guy” spending many hours in his shed welding, grinding, drilling, nailing, stained glass work etc, building many different things and playing music. One of his latest projects has been converting his Nissan Navara Diesel to run on second hand veggie oil. All the while still playing guitar and writing music but not finishing or performing he was challenged by another good friend Ian Campbell from Muddy Boots records to do just that. Armed with a guitar and harmonica Dean and Ian went to work and with the help of some very talented friends produced his debut album Yeah Nah. Deans environmental, political and sense of community thinking, has led to prolific song writing combining all these aspects into heart felt lyrics delivering a message in a broad selection of contemporary styles among those being, country, reggae and folk. In 2005 Dean traveled to Kalgoorlie (600kms inland from Perth AU) to find a didgeridoo and along with an old friend and two aboriginal locals stayed a few nights out in the bush cutting and clean up sticks to make the Indigenous Australian instrument which he plays regularly. In May 2007 Dean was a finalist in the MLT song writing awards in Gore with his song "Stop throwing stones" written about the degrading environment and in August the "Fishing song" which was written about him and his mates fishing trips out off Hokio Beach near Levin won a second place in the open section of the pacific Songwriting competition. Also His song about the fuel crisis called “Gas is gone” was placed in the top 5 of the social action section of the Independent Music Awards in the USA. Dean has frequented many music clubs in the Horowhenua,Kapiti coast. 2008 has started with Dean having another song in the top 10 of the MLT awards in Gore and forming a band called “off the grid” with Ian Campbell on Guitars and vocals, Moria Howard on Bass and vocals both from the "legal tender" band line up and Carylann Martin ..boards, accordion and vocals. Off the grid are currently playing only Deans songs but the experience brought to the table by the other 3 members has given a new life and depth to his songs.
Today I like to inform you, that you can read and watch interviews with your favorit country stars in Enlgish, German and French at http://www.CountryHome.de/Interviews .
Warm regards
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Hey Y’know Digital Promotion helps the environment AND the economy?
Promoting, selling and creating new revenue streams online requires no manufacturing process, and without physical shipment, creates no “carbon footprint”.
As a musician, digital products and services give you access to a global market, and the value that is created comes back to our local economy. Now you don’t need to have industry contacts - build connections directly with fans worldwide.
We’re encouraging New Zealand musicians to get out there, get online, and take their creativity to the world. Develop content on your own websites, develop your blog, develop and expand new ways to connect and create opportunities online.
The future for creative New Zealanders is just around the corner. Make sure you’re up to date with the latest online promo news and tips by subscribing to our digital music promotion blog here on myspace
Hiya Dean, it was great to accidentally find you out here. Gas is Gone is a great song and the arrangement sounds like a collaboration between Paul Kelly and Mark Knopfler.
Thanks for the kind words about my songs. Yes, If I make it to your hemisphere I'd love to hang out in your earth house. One of my goals in the next 5 years is to find a bit of land to build and live completely off the grid. Like minds!
Hi Dean...........thanks for having me in your friends. I hope all is going well in Levin. I miss the Kapiti Coast somewhat, but hope to be down that way again soon cheers and have a great week Koretz Music Online ..............................
