One Man Army – Dean Saviour
By Bobby Pfeiffer
http://bigrockcat.blogspot.com/
Dean Saviour always had a special relationship with his guitar. Until recently, he was playing for the BMA winners Salt in Malta, where he grew up. Now back in London, Dean is taking the lonesome road to make music his day-job. He went solo and recorded three songs, all carrying the specific gentle melodies and deep riffs you might want to hear on the radio on Sunday afternoon. They remind you of driving on empty roads, paperbacks and empty blues bars.
Studying English Lit at Westminster in between gigs, Dean is brushing shoulders with the titans of the written word in hope that it will inspire his lyrics and will enhance his creative process. He also studies Music Production at Point Blank Music School, which makes his life quite busy but fulfilling. Here he tells me about why he loves music and where he thinks it will take him in the near future.
"I'm not exclusively a solo singer/songwriter; I like to collaborate with other musicians. I'm in love with music since I was little – I used to dance to my Dad's records and to listen to loads of Queen and Michael Jackson. Later I began to like heavier music. I had a fascination with the guitar and I started playing when I was 12 – I thought it looks cool. I can't go a day without listening to music. It's a part of me, a way to express myself better than words."
"It all began with playing in a school band; then I was in a resident blues-bar band back in Malta. Lter I became a part of Salt – we won "Best New Artist" radio award together for our debut album Hello Truth. That was a great experience.."
"I love all music. As a musician I learn from many different styles and sounds. My collaboration with the R&B artist Jay Omaro on his single My World was an expression of my will to stay open minded. Working with him was incredibly easy and very liberating."
"I like to be recognized, but it has nothing to do with fame or money. My purpose is to connect on a certain emotional level to as many people as possible. I don't like to preach or send practical messages out there, but to connect with the individual, rather than with the mass. Music should tell you something special, something personal."
"I study Literature at Westminster and it has a precious influence on my lyrics and my artistic perspectives. It helps me to learn about myself through the other people's experiences. My Music Production studies are my Plan B – I'd love to be a full time musician, but I'm also interested in exploring new bands and artists. Experimenting is essential – in order to evolve, one should always look for something new."
"Eventually, I'd look into being signed, but for now I just want to spread the word about my gigs and songs. It starts slow, but the most important thing for me is to see people interested. I don't target a certain group, all public is good public. Even if they like just one song, or even a part of a song, that's enough. I'm especially happy with my song Hallway of Kites – it's about how we like to think that we are in control of our life, but the truth is that we never know what's gonna happen next."
"I'm proud to see how my lyrics mature – they are about grabbing an instant, no matter if that instant is good or bad. Musically, I search for a natural sound. I like to think about my songs as for "elaborate nursery rhymes" – they might sound complex, but their beauty is their simplicity. I still try to establish my own sound through exploring different styles. A good melody can be translated to any style - you should just be true to the melody, true to the song."