JAVA-NOV-2018

JAVA: How is your move going to affect the
band?
Brandon Decker: Well, certainly I’ll be playing less
with my Phoenix people – decker. has always had
kind of erratic membership. Well, I love, love, love all
the people that I’ve performed with down there and
as often as I can, I will [continue to play with them].
I’ve been doing a lot of solo performing over the last
year – just logistics of it and financially.
What I imagine is I will continue to branch out and
perform with other amazing musicians. In no way is
that a lack of appreciation for my lovely cohorts in
Phoenix. I love the music that most of us have been
playing [together] for quite a few years now, but you
know, it is just the way it goes.
There is an urgency and honesty to Brandon Decker’s music that stretches far beyond any of the usual
platitudes used to describe songs. I would simply say this: Listen to the man’s music and you will feel like
you know him.
Since 2009, Decker has been doing his band, decker. (note the lowercase “d” and the period at the end – for
dramatic effect), and the results have often been enlightening for both artist and audience. There is a quest for
truth in his music that is refreshing, and if you go back and listen to the full catalog, the growth of Decker as an
artist is obvious and impressive, to say the least.
There are some genre-bending moments in the decker. recordings that are often pleasant and, unlike the
work of a lesser band, are not jarring or out of place: hints of Americana, straight-up rock ’n’ roll, a little
gospel, and an alternative/indie sound that keeps it just close enough to the proverbial edge so that even
the most jaded hipsters will give it a chance.
Brandon Decker, the man, is not afraid to tackle some tough subjects in his music and confront his own
demons, angels, and shadows from song to song. Physically he is slight, but when you share space with him,
his presence is significantly felt. He has the endearing quality of someone who probably gives a great hug, and
that is a wonderful quality in our current world. But he is also supremely talented.
The musicianship expressed in Decker’s growing catalog is always top notch, and as a vocalist, the long-time Sedona
resident (who has recently moved to northern California, unfortunately for us) is one of the brightest lights our
state has seen in recent years. Decker the lyricist is not afraid to tackle subjects that reach down into your soul
and wring out emotions we tend to bury rather than confront, but he does it with a deftness and respect for
humanity that makes it seem comforting, soothing, and, in a weird way, nurturing.
On Born to Wake Up, Decker’s recently released record on the Brooklyn, NY–based label Royal Potato Family,
the singer/songwriter continues to evolve into an artist you need to pay attention to while you still have the
chance to see him in smaller venues. As there have been standout tracks on previous releases – like “Princess
of Cups” from 2009’s Long Days or “We Used to Sing” from 2010’s Long as the Night – that have showcased
Decker’s songwriting, Born to Wake Up is a pleasure to listen to while driving across the desert or working on
your latest project.
We caught up with Decker while he was driving near Barstow, California, to talk about his move to the San
Francisco Bay Area and what is happening with him right now.
JAVA: Will there be a decker. California
version?
BD: I imagine I will be playing music with people in
the Bay Area. I know a lot of people out there that
are really good, and I’m eager to get in with them,
whether it’s in the decker. spirit or something else,
but I imagine that it will be decker. because that’s
what I’m working on right now.
JAVA: And the tour that you’re on right now, is
that the full band or you solo?
BD: It’s really across the board. Most of it is with my
best friend who does backup singing and percussion
with me. Then I’ve got dates also adding on my
keyboard player, who’s my longest tenured player. I’ve
been with her for five years. And then I have dates
out on the East Coast with additional members, and
I also have dates with the whole band out west later
in the year.
JAVA: Tell me about your best friend.
BD: His name’s Dante LoPresti.
JAVA: And tell me about your keyboard player.
BD: Amber Johnson. Amber has been with me
through thick and thin for about five years.
JAVA: Anyone else we should know about?
BD: My bass player, Andrew Bates, has been with me
for a long time as well, and he’s a great friend and
player. And Meliza Jackson plays guitar. She just got
brought on with the Darts. She’s a great human.