Songwriting and Its Emotion: An Interview with Michael David Dean
Nov 01, 2023
Co-hosted by John Noblitt and Donna Green
Ever wondered about the magic that unfolds when a group of individuals join forces to create a song? Get ready to be enchanted as we journey with Michael David Dean, an inspiring songwriter from Austin, Texas. Michael shares his captivating story of musical beginnings, the difficult decision to step away from music to raise a family and work a corporate job, and his eventual triumphant return to the realm of songwriting and performing.
This episode not only reveals the man behind the music, but also the essence of his craft. Michael delves into his creative process, the joy of collaboration, and the crucial role of emotion in songwriting. He also emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between personal life and career, and takes us through his current projects and future plans. Tune in and enjoy an intimate chat with Michael David Dean - don't miss his invaluable advice for those needing that extra push to pursue their dreams.
You have been listening to The 266 Express, the official podcast of Sanger, TX. IF you have comments or suggestions, please send them to dgreen@sangertexas.org
Ever wondered about the magic that unfolds when a group of individuals join forces to create a song? Get ready to be enchanted as we journey with Michael David Dean, an inspiring songwriter from Austin, Texas. Michael shares his captivating story of musical beginnings, the difficult decision to step away from music to raise a family and work a corporate job, and his eventual triumphant return to the realm of songwriting and performing.
This episode not only reveals the man behind the music, but also the essence of his craft. Michael delves into his creative process, the joy of collaboration, and the crucial role of emotion in songwriting. He also emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between personal life and career, and takes us through his current projects and future plans. Tune in and enjoy an intimate chat with Michael David Dean - don't miss his invaluable advice for those needing that extra push to pursue their dreams.
You have been listening to The 266 Express, the official podcast of Sanger, TX. IF you have comments or suggestions, please send them to dgreen@sangertexas.org
Speaker 1:
Welcome back to the 266 Express. Coming to you live from the old Boliver station. Songwriter festival number one here in Sanger. I'm John Noblett, here with my co-host, donna Green.
Speaker 2:
And we have another guest.
Speaker 1:
We do.
Speaker 2:
So introduce yourself, tell us where you're from, tell us your story.
Speaker 3:
Thank you. My name is Michael David Dean. I'm just out of the north part of Austin around the Lago Vista area and I've been playing music since I was 15 years old. But I took a little pause in the middle to raise a family and make a living and work in the corporate world and all that, and then came back and started writing and performing again around the Austin area. So what do you do?
Speaker 2:
in the corporate world.
Speaker 3:
I was a business to business marketing manager.
Speaker 2:
You cannot have my job.
Speaker 3:
I know how hard your job is. Trust me.
Speaker 1:
Very much. Yeah, we're not looking Now raising the family. You must have done something right, because my mom, my aunt, my wife all caught your set over here at the Bear Cafe and two of the three you teared up. You wrote a beautiful song about your ride.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, and they teared up for the right reasons. Right, yeah, that was good. Well, my songs I write from the heart, and it was marvelous to see Ron Grimes this morning and hear his tips and his methods of writing, because it pretty well lines with how I approach a song as well. It's all about the emotion and it's all about the song. All about the song. You see so many eagles in this business, but when you can get a group of people together that work together for the song to make it the best possible can, that's when magic happens.
Speaker 2:
For sure. I'm glad you enjoyed it. He was very excited to be here.
Speaker 3:
Yes, I am honored to be here, I truly am, and I hope I can do some more in the future.
Speaker 2:
Oh, we love it yeah.
Speaker 1:
We're blessed to have you, so tell us a little bit about now. Was it the songwriting or was it the musician that came first?
Speaker 3:
I think well, the musician came first, but I never was that good a musician. It's pretty simple in my approach to things, Maybe a little bit more like a John Trine with a little bit of Gordon Lightfoot and then occasional Bob Dylan sort of slips out there. So it really is kind of a hip folk kind of approach that I take to things. Some call it Americana, but to me it's just what comes from the heart. Really, the songwriter portion of it came out actually being in business for many years and doing a lot of writing, ad copy and things like that.
Speaker 2:
A lot of sad stories there.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, there's a lot of sad stories there, but it also helps you to write. You know, to know how to get a message across quickly, which is always important in songwriting.
Speaker 1:
So are you a songwriter that writes every day or just when the inspiration hits?
Speaker 3:
I yeah, I have to wait for the inspiration I'll maybe do reconnaissance and if I just don't feel it that day, I'm one of those morning people that got to get up at like 5.30 in the morning and then I can write for about two hours.
Speaker 3:
Even I'm worthless there's still the day for writing, but that's when I'll work on my music and the chords and just trying to do things correctly, you know. So I maybe make some calls and try to line up some gigs and whatnot, but that's kind of my routine. I'll get into a stretch where I might have several songs, like I'm entering in that right now. I've got about four songs or five that I'm really excited about. That I think are going to turn out very, very well. And I just actually it's the second time I've ever performed it here a song called 20 Miles to Main Street and that got a good reaction too.
Speaker 1:
So that's the law. We don't have a Main Street, so you're more than 20. But yeah.
Speaker 3:
But 20 Miles to Boulevard Street.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, a Bolivar yeah, maybe you pick up some inspiration while you're here. Do you find it's good to be around the community of other salt riders?
Speaker 3:
Absolutely. Yeah, creativity just breeds creativity and you see so many talented people that. And if you can sit down and just chat a little bit about ideas or just watching some of these guys play in, these gals play, just you know it inspires one hand and the other I just sort of why am I doing this? I want to quit, you know, but they really are. These are great events and I thank Singer for having it and hosting it and I hope that you do more, and this turns out to be a huge success down the road.
Speaker 2:
That's the plan. Yeah, I have to ask you, is there a song oh, call it your baby that's still sitting in a drawer somewhere that you keep revisiting over the years that you planned to launch at some point?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, yeah, there's one. I don't want to give away the hook, but somebody might take it because it's pretty clever. I think maybe it's just corny, but yeah, there's one that I that in particular, I want to work on.
Speaker 2:
How long you been working on it A year. Yeah.
Speaker 3:
You know, I know maybe in the scheme of things that's not so much. I know of some people, like I have done a little working with a man named Tom Shepard who was wrote writing with Private Malone and the Redneck Yacht Club.
Speaker 2:
Oh, okay.
Speaker 3:
You know. So I've taken some of his writing classes. I know how long it takes. And you got to write hundreds and hundreds and I was late to the game. As my mom I used to say, I'm always a late bloomer.
Speaker 1:
Well, Mike, if you could go back and tell little Mike anything back in those teenage years, what piece of advice would you give him?
Speaker 3:
I'd say just go for it, figure out a way to do it, to work it in. I'm not telling you to quit your job or all that, but just figure out a way of putting in there and making it happen. Now, get it in your schedule, even if it's just 10 minutes a day, just start somewhere.
Speaker 2:
So where are all of our listeners find you? Where are you at?
Speaker 3:
I have a website it's wwwmddeancom, and all of my music is available. Or my last album was just called Gotta Be Somewhere is available on Apple, almost all the major platforms and streams under Michael David V.
Speaker 2:
Michael.
Speaker 3:
David.
Speaker 1:
V.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, get that middle one in. I was told that if I'm gonna be a songwriter from Texas, I had to use three names.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, it's songwriters or serial killers. You gotta have three. We appreciate you coming out and helping us make this event a success.
Speaker 3:
Thank you very much. So much again. I consider it a great honor. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you, mike Exit music.
