Alex Dezen
Alex Dezen is a guitar player, solo artist, and the lead singer and songwriter for the now defunct American rock and roll band The Damnwells.[1] He holds an MFA degree in English from The University of Iowa's Iowa Writers' Workshop, where he was a Jeffrey G. and Victoria J. Edwards Fellow.[2] As a songwriter, he has written and released songs for artists such as Justin Bieber, Robin Thicke, Matt Hires, Court Yard Hounds, The Veronicas, and others. He has also written for and worked with a number of additional artist such as The Dixie Chicks, Dave Grohl, Gary Louris of The Jayhawks, Sara Bareilles, Christina Perri, Genevieve Schatz of Company of Thieves, Simple Plan, Jesse & Joy, Bun E. Carlos and many others. He is currently signed to Warner Chappell Music Publishing.[3]
Alex Dezen | |
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Birth name | Alexander Dezen |
Born | New York City |
Genres | Rock, Post-punk, Americana |
Occupation(s) | Songwriter, composer, producer, guitarist, artist |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
Years active | 2000–present |
Labels | Epic Records, Rounder Records, Poor Man Records, In Music We Trust, Palo Santo Records |
Associated acts | Broken Baby, The Damnwells, The Rebecca West, Nourallah Harvey Dezen, Broken Baby |
Website | www |
Career
A series of 4 solo EPs, known as "The Bedhead EPs," were released throughout 2014. The first one, titled 1/4, was released on January 21, 2014.[4][5] The second, titled 2/4, was released on April 22, 2014, and was accompanied by a video, which premiered on the website for American Songwriter magazine.[6] The 3rd EP, titled 3/4, was released on July 22, 2014[7] The final EP in the series, 4/4, was released on December 30, 2014.[8]
In 2015, he collaborated with the American dance company Pilobolus, composing the music for the dance piece Wednesday Morning, 11:45 (2015), which premiered at The American Dance Festival in Durham, NC, on June 15, 2015.[9][10]
The Damnwells eponymous fifth studio album, featuring the original four members, was released on April 14, 2015.[11]
On November 3, 2015, Dezen announced a PledgeMusic project of songs written in early 2015 to be released as his first solo album.[12] The project reached its crowdfunding goal in one week. The self-titled album was released by Rock Ridge Music on February 12, 2016, followed by a 9-hour, free internet concert where Dezen performed acoustic versions of every song he has ever released over his 15-year career either with The Damnwells or as a solo artist, including a live, full-band performance of the self-titled solo album live at the High Watt in Nashville, TN.[13] The footage is still available online to view Dezen's YouTube channel.[14]
On August 23, 2016, Dezen announced another Pledge Music campaign for his second solo album, releasing the song and video for "Randolph Tonight" exclusively to Pledgers.[15]
In August 2017, Dezen released the first recording by his new band, Broken Baby, a rock group featuring his long-time partner and collaborator Amber Marie Bollinger on lead vocals.
References
- "The Damnwells". www.thedamnwells.com.
- "Music – Music News, New Songs, Videos, Music Shows and Playlists from MTV". www.mtv.com.
- "Alex Dezen - Our Artists: Writers & Producers | Warner/Chappell Music".
- https://www.amazon.com/1-4-Explicit-Alex-Dezen/dp/B00H7QXMWS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388610962&sr=8-1&keywords=Alex+Dezen
- "The Damnwells". www.facebook.com.
- "Video Premiere: Alex Dezen, "None of These Things" « American Songwriter". 22 April 2014.
- "Alex Dezen on Instagram: "Just about a month away from the 3rd release in #thebedheadeps series. 3/4 arrives on 7/22. It will feature the songs "Crying Our Hearts…"". Instagram.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-19. Retrieved 2015-03-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://www.pilobolus.org/about/pilobolus-dance-theater/active-repertoire/wednesday-morning-1145/%5B%5D
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-09-03. Retrieved 2015-12-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "US RELEASE DATE SET / US TOUR ANNOUNCED!!". www.thedamnwells.com.
- "Alex Dezen: The New Album". PledgeMusic.
- "Alex Dezen: a Nine-Hour Live Stream Across Nashville". 25 February 2016.
- "Nashville Live Stream 2.11.16 - YouTube". YouTube.
- "Alex Dezen: The New Solo Record". PledgeMusic.