A strong debut album from the highly-skilled songwriter
Bryan Deister’s emotionally-charged new album ‘Spines Of The Heart’ is not for the faint of heart. A classically-trained musician, Bryan has used his wealth of musical knowledge to create a highly-strung record that sinks its teeth straight into the heart of the listener.
Can you tell us a bit about your musical history?
‘My first long-term piano teacher was classically trained. After several years, and after relocating from Northern to Southern California, I changed teachers, got a crazy rock piano teacher and I learned the art of improvisation. After many years, I switched back to a classically trained teacher and learned the works of Chopin, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Liszt. This means that I can go back and forth between various styles of music very easily, but I would principally say that I’m a jazz musician with classical chops.
‘Spines Of The Heart’ is a difficult album to describe – how would you describe it to someone who hasn’t heard it?
‘I would say the album is diverse, with many different styles of music, and that it’s generally a quite strange thing. Probably the best description is to listen to it.
Can you talk us through your songwriting process?
‘I write music every day. I’m constantly thinking of music in my head, even when I sleep. Things just come to me and I decide to explore them, and then I usually know exactly what I want so I just record it… I make it sound like it’s purely emotional, and it’s not. It’s pure instinct, but the mathematical side of it is just as present.
The album is seriously long. How long did it take you to make it?
‘About three years, actually. When I started to put this album together I had over fifty tracks, and more than eight hours of recorded music. From there, I just tried to cut off the fat and make an album that was cohesive.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
‘It just comes. My best ideas usually come at the most inappropriate times, but what mostly inspires my music is philosophy or any other kind of meditation. One must allow the mind to be like a pool of water; only in its stillness can it reflect the light of the moon.
Is there anyone in the industry who you would like to collaborate with?
‘I don’t know. I am really enjoying the freedom of doing the entire production myself, but I’m always open to making music in any facet.
Any advice for people who are looking to record an album?
‘There are two sides to the creative life: intuition, and reason. Let the intuition take the reigns at the beginning and the reason at the end.
‘Into The Sky’ really showcases your vocal ability, and is one of our favourite tracks on the record. Do you have a favorite song on the album?
‘A lot of people have told me that that’s the best song on there. I wouldn’t put a song on the album that I didn’t think was good, but I will say that ‘Apart of Me‘ took an entire summer to write, and it’s over thirteen minutes long. So, if I had to pick one, I’d say ‘Apart of Me‘.
