What is your name/band name? Kurt Deemer Band.
How long have you been writing and performing? I always came up with my own riffs as soon as I could play. The earliest complete songs with lyrics that I remember writing was when I was about 14 years old. My first band played all-ages punk rock venues in the mid eighties. I’ve been writing and performing ever since.
When did you first become interested in music? I loved music for as long as I can remember. My dad would listen to Crosby Stills and Nash and Fleetwood Mac and the like. My sisters and I kept the stereo on constantly and sang along with the songs. I even slept with a radio playing. When I was around 11 years old, I found an old guitar that had been my mothers, stashed in my sisters closet. It had three strings on it and I would hold it upside down and bang on it and make all kinds of racket. That was the early 1980’s. Not long after that I got a proper guitar and took up lessons.
Who are your influences? The earliest and most profound influences on my songwriting and arranging would probably be: Neil Young, Tom Petty, Chrissie Hynde, Buddy Holly, Lou Reed, Paul Westerberg, Lloyd Cole and Richard Thompson… That’s what comes to mind.
When did you know that you wanted to be an artist and a songwriter? I remember a moment when I was about 18 Years old when I was sitting with my guitar and really thinking hard about what I most wanted to do with music. I was studying music in college and really not wanting to play the jazz songs I had to learn and I remember thinking that what I felt was most important for me to focus on was writing and playing the songs I was coming up with. I knew I wouldn’t make a really good guitar player or musician and that it was probably best for me to focus on what really drove me and was closest to my heart.
Other than your musical influences, who has most influenced your decision to become a singer? My mother always told me that people can accomplish whatever they set their minds to. She has inspired me to try to do something good in my time on this planet and has always supported my music making. The place where the words come from is a raw and unguarded place. My mom taught me to be someone that can channel that.
How does your early music differ from your most recent music? Much of my earlier music was more about riffs and loud guitars. There’s nothing wrong with that at all but as time goes on, it becomes less and less about me and more and more about the song and the life it has of it’s own. There’s a bit of riff rock mixed in on this record but most of it comes back to acoustic and vocal and melody -hopefully.
Tell me about your current project? Currently, I am producing what I believe will be my next record or records. It’s all written and mostly arranged and I am currently recording it myself. The focus is on acoustic and vocal and basic arrangements. There’s a few rockers but will primarily feature acoustic guitar. I’m working with a few different musicians from the Band that I’ve made most of my recordings with. It’s an opportunity to branch out and try a few different things.
Was it difficult for you to pick a single to release? I knew I wanted the title track, “World Upside Down” first, it seemed most apropos for the moment. But I felt that “Don’t Look Down” was a better focus track for AAA radio, so I released that one later. I also released “Take a Chance” as a single.
What do you hope listeners take away from listening to the single? The main thing I would like people to take away from any of the songs on this record is a feeling of hopeful optimism.
What is your favorite song on the album? Why? “Take a Chance” is probably my favorite on the record. It’s a song that was written long ago and it’s good to hear it find its place among the rest of the record. It’s like it found its proper time and place where it belonged. There is an all-star cast of players on this tune, including band mates from Black Friday; with whom I originally played this song, when I wrote it long ago. They were instrumental in breathing life into and so It was good to have them play on it, as well as singer-songwriter, Ellen Cherry and Andrew Grimm and Dave Hadley of Junestar. It’s fun to hear everybody mixed in there!
Does this album reflect where you are in your life right now? Why or why not? Typically, my head is in what I’m writing and/or producing at the moment and I am definitely invested in those new songs; However, this record is still very much alive for me at this time. It was delayed due to the pandemic but it still managed to fit the time. I mean, my head is still in these tunes and I’m psyched to get out and play the songs off of it with the guys who helped me make the record.
Do you prefer to release full albums or release albums a single at a time? Why? These days one really needs to drop singles leading up to an album. But the context of an album seems to be the tried and true way to put out music. I think it’s helpful to be able to bookend moments in time in a way that is cohesive.
What did you do during the pandemic when you weren’t able to be doing shows? Much of this record was made during the pandemic which created lots of challenges and delays but it kept me chugging. I also wrote a fair amount of music and began recording that as well.
Have you been able to do any shows yet? We have not been able to perform yet but looks like we will finally be able to do a safe, socially distanced CD release in the spring and are starting to put dates on the calendar.
What will it look like when you get back to your typical performing and touring schedule? It’s very difficult to know at this time how things will look. I just know I’ll…”Keep looking up” as the lead track suggests:)
Anything else you want to share? Please check out the music of some of my friends who graciously contributed their talents to this record. Andy Belt and Shawn Heming of Porch Setters Union: https://porchsettersunion.wixsite.com/porchsettersunion Ellen Cherry: https://www.ellencherry.com/ Andrew Grimm and Dave Hadley of Junestar: https://www.junestar.com/band