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*Who or what has influenced your writing significantly?*
Basically all my songwriting stems from my relationships with all the people I know, whether those relationships be romantic, political, or whatever. I don't really write a lot of love songs, and like I said, most of them aren't based off of specific stories, but I find that with every song I write, a little piece of that person stays with the song, and it makes each one special to me.
*What highlight in your songwriting/performing could you share with us"
I'd say the main highlight, in a strictly personal sense has been hosting and performing at the Open Mic at The House Coffee Sanctuary in Kensington. Not a significant achievement in the grander scale of things, but I find I've learned more there than I ever did trying to tough it out on my own. I've met some very amazing people there, and the audience is always welcoming and friendly. I can't really think of any specific things about it that I can really highlight, but if I could impart any part of my experience there to the readers, I would suggest you just swing by and check it out on Thursday evenings. The level of inspiration there has blessed me with a lot of the songs in my repertoire.
*What have you learned that you could pass on about songwriting/performing
experience?
One thing's for sure, practice really is the only way to get there. And not necessarily just practicing your music, but learning how to be more outgoing, more charismatic, and learning to improvise. Getting up on stage and playing as often as possible and trying new things has basically taught me most of the tools I need, though I still have a long way to go.
*Any tips or advice you could give to songwriters?*
Lyrically, there's not much advice to give, as it's a really subjective thing when it comes to song structures and inspiration. There's some general songwriting formulas, which is important to know, but not necessary that important to live by.
The main songwriting tip I have to do your best to master your instrument. When you're stuck within the same 3 or 4 chords all the time and only switch it around with a capo on a guitar, you can be very limited to the type of musical inspiration you get. Continuing to push the boundaries of what you can and can't do on your instrument can help you to be "musically free." Once you get there, and the right inspiration comes along, the songs write themselves.
*What plans or goals do you have for the next year?*
I'm going to be playing as often as possible, anywhere I can, and money isn't really an issue at this point. I'm going to be working on some studio tracks as well so I have something to promote. Tough to get your name out there when you don't have anything to give to your fans but yourself. But I'm hoping to network with some other songwriters and maybe put a few showcases together. I've got lots on my plate, so it's gonna be a busy year.
*Where can we buy your CD?*
Presently, the only way to get a CD of my stuff would be to ask me for one. I don't have a commercial CD produced yet, so I'm just kind of spreading my old home demos around to anyone that might want one. Otherwise, you can hear most of those demos on my Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dean-Morrison-Band/19745441224 or MySpace http://www.myspace.com/satanzilla pages.
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