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Dean Friedman is a singer songwriter from Peekskill, New York where he lives with his wife and two children, plus assorted live stock - including a monkey named Amelia. It was in the summer of 1977 that Dean first entered the UK charts with his single “Ariel”. A year later he hit the number one spot with “Lucky stars”, a duet which still graces the airwaves to this day. Next time you’re at a Karaoke, look in the menu because it’s always there.
This success paved the way for the now classic album “Well, Well Said the Rocking Chair” and more chart hits from that album such as “Lydia” which simply has to be one of the all time classic love ballads. (Anyone interested in the art of the ‘singer songwriter’ seriously needs to listen to this album which ‘resides on the same shelf’ as Carole Kings’ “Tapestry”). |
He then followed through with a well known single “McDonalds Girl” which the BBC banned, and which is covered to this day by many others including ‘Barenaked Ladies’. (In fact, this song recently went to No.1 in Norway after it was covered by Scandinavian band “The Blenders”)
Dean went on to write the theme and incidental music for the classic 80s TV series “Boon” and cult horror movie, “I bought a Vampire Motorcycle.” He had many other involvements and developed a reputation as an innovator, always looking for an opportunity to advance developing technologies, both to pay for the food on the table and to feed his interest in ‘new toys’.
| Following the release of “Rumpled Romeo” in 1981 Dean did not record any albums for 17 years but was inspired by the continuing interest in his music and, in 1998, released “Songs for Grownups", a double CD of excellent material, not least a song called “Saturday fathers”. If this one doesn’t bring a tear to your nothing will. (I heard BBC s Steve Wright “in the afternoon” play this one a few weeks ago and he then talked about it persistently afterwards). This was followed by “The Treehouse Journals” in 2002 and “Squirrels in the Attic” just this year, 2006. Displaying his warm sense of humour, for which he is noted, this one is a ‘comedy album with a political message. This is the sleeve note “WARNING: This CD contains obscene language, gratuitous depictions of violence, rude references to perverse sexual acts, disparaging remarks about Republicans and |
"Songs for Grownups" | an irresponsible endorsement of illegal substances. Parental discretion is advised.”
Dean has an established website community of fans worldwide and uses the site to keep in touch with his fans and, of course, promote and sell his material (which includes many other projects, including some for Children, too numerous to detail here.) He is perhaps a prime example of how the ‘indie’ musician can utilise new technology to the full. He has not only been at the forefront of website development as an artist, but has also recently had involvements in developing a software tool to enable any musician to distribute and sell their own material.
In my recent interview with Dean I was keen to find out what it has been like to be so successful and to earn a good living for himself and his family by doing the things he loves best. Recording, performing and innovating. Dean tours the UK every couple of years or so and has a message to inspire any indie musician, songwriter or artist. I’ll let him explain himself:
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Mark: I know you used to sit in your room as a 'broke' musician writing your songs and struggling financially, as many musicians do. How did your commercial success begin and how did you feel as it began to happen?
Dean: My commercial success did feel slightly inevitable as it was happening, but at the same time, I was very conscious of how potentially transient it was and I was painfully aware of how incompetent the people handling my career were. So, it was simultaneously exciting and frustrating.
Mark: How does it feel to have a couple of 'classic' albums to your name, knowing that you provided a soundtrack to many peoples lives.
Dean: It's satisfying to know the music has meant something to lots of people. Even years later it's a pleasant surprise to get email from folks expressing that.
Mark: You have a community of fans, original and new, and a website through which they interact with you. (I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with a few prior to this interview…Hello ‘Kat’, the Welsh beauty…how are you doing?) In what way has the website changed your life in comparison to the 'early' days before such things existed? Were you personally involved in the development of the technology and how did you generate its activity....or did it just happen because of the music?
Dean: The website has had a dramatic impact on my life. The internet made it possible for me to pursue my music career as an independent musician by providing me direct access to my audience, eliminating the middlemen (record labels, managers, publishers, agents etc.) And, because it's a two-way communication, it has resulted in an unusually close relationship with my listening audience - one I value. My friend, Matt Lees, created an early version of my website a while back and I took it over from there and have managed it ever since.
Mark: I am aware of your activities in the development of electronic music/technology. Could you summarise what your goals were and what you achieved/contributed toward its development?
Dean: I've always been fascinated with technology, and to me, synthesizers are just another instrument to play with. It was after visiting a Sam Ash keyboard convention around 1982, just as MIDI was coming out, that I talked my way into a book deal with Music Sales and eventually authored what became the first consumer guide for synthesizers - The Complete Guide to Synthesizers, Sequencers and Drum Machines [AMSCO]. I had a great time and learned as I went along. I then wrote a book entitled, 'Synthesizer Basics' which became a popular college text book for teaching music synthesis. The coolest part was getting free loaners of all these cool new synthesizers and drum machines.
Mark: What other involvements have you had with regard to technology and the industry itself?
Dean: My music synthesizer work, led to me reviewing music software and then video and animation software, eventually leading me to explore a new type of camera-based VR platform based on the Amiga computer. It was while playing around with that authoring system that I developed what became the first Virtual Reality Video Game for Nickelodeon TV, 'Eat-A-Bug'.
Mark: Your latest involvements include “SafeSell”. In your opinion, where is this technology going to take the music industry and how will it affect the independent musician?
Dean: What's exciting about the music business these days is a definite trend towards decentralization of the industry. Access to the internet and affordable recording technology has led to a democratization of the music industry. More and more indie music is being created than ever before and the means to market, promote and distribute it are making indie content more commercially viable than ever before. A music download solution like SafeSell is another technological tool that helps to empower indie musicians, enabling them to generate revenue from their music on their own websites; they don't have to ask anyone's permission or pass an audition or suit the tastes of some fickle A&R guy. They can simply make the music they want to and put it out there.
Mark: To all the budding singer/songwriters here in the North of England, what words of advice and encouragement would you offer in this rapidly changing musical environment.
Dean: Try to hold on to the reasons you became a musician in the first place - making music, playing with other musicians, engaging an audience. The satisfaction, confidence and energy you derive from those pursuits will sustain you through the sometimes exhausting chores necessary to make any kind of a living as a musician. Be creative with your time and the type of work you take on and if you're luck you can find a balance between feeding your artistic nature and feeding your family. It's not always easy, but it's always worth it.
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I would like to offer my thanks to Dean for agreeing to do this interview. For any who are interested in hearing his music why not visit his website or even join in the community of fans from around the world who interact there. http://www.deanfriedman.com/
The innovative tool “SafeSell” mentioned in this interview is a free tool which allows individuals to market and sell their own music direct from their own website.
http://www.safesell.com/
Watch this space for upcoming interviews with other successful musicians, bands and artists, all of whom wish to support and encourage the development of ne-music.co.uk toward its goal to help those who enjoy music to achieve everything they can.
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"Well, Well, Said The Rocking Chair"
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