Dean is currently winding up his US tour where he has been performing with Brett Dennan, and will be supporting Sigrid for two shows in LA and San Francisco, before returning to Australian shores to perform at Groovin The Moo.  Recently claiming his third Gold plus selling single with ‘Need You Now’ (Gold), along with previous singles ‘Lose My Mind’ (Gold) and ‘Waves’ (3 x Platinum), Dean found the time while touring the US to have a chat with Kelsey. Read the interview below.

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Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music?

My dad showed my brother and I an Oasis Live in 2005 DVD. It blew my mind! I got so hooked on them, I’d get home and just watch Noel Gallagher acoustic videos all night. I didn’t know I had what it took to do it, but I knew I loved it!

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Was there a specific time or event that you could pin point when you decided that music was something that you wanted to make a career out of?

My brother caught me singing a song to my ex gf over the phone and said “you have a good voice, you should sing”. So maybe then. Maybe I was naive but I remember thinking “if all these bands can write five albums of amazing songs, then surely I can write one song as good as their worst one” and that sort of gave me hope.

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I need to ask about the track ‘Chemicals’! I absolutely love it. What was the process behind this video?

Thank you so much! Well I’m usually very involved in the videos but this one I just called up one of my best mates Mick Jones (who did the video for my song waves) and said “Can you do it?…. ok cool just do what you want”!

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Directed by one of my best Mick Jones, What was it like working with him? Was the concept your idea? His idea?

He’s one of the best people to work with. We’ve known each other for a very long time so I trust him. We had a coffee and he explained what he was going for, he kept emailing me and calling me about the video as it was getting closer to the shoot date cause he was getting so excited about his ideas. I love that stuff! He really goes all in. Seeing the reaction to the video has been incredible!

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‘Same Kind of Different’ was released almost a year ago, Is there a plan for another EP/Album in the works?

Yes the album is almost done! We didn’t think the EP would have had this kind of impact, it’s been insane. I’m excited and really proud of the album that’s coming, it’s like well… if you liked THIS, then you will love this!

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You’re exploding into the International music scenes. Is there a goal career wise you’d like to achieve that you haven’t yet?

There are so many things I want to achieve! Having all this success in Australia is life-changing and incredible and has given me the opportunity to come to the US and get started over here. I’m very lucky to have signed to Island records USA, it’s one of those pinch yourself moments. The goal this year is to have the first single off my album do what “Waves” did in Australia, in America – if that makes sense haha. I feel like the songs are there and I have one of the best teams ever, we are all very excited!

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Your tracks have been featured on massive shows like; “Suits”, “Riverdale”, “Shadow Hunters”, & “Valor”. What show would you love to see your music appear on?

It’s been incredible how many shows! You know to be honest any show is great but I just finished watching this show called “Mindhunter” on Netflix and it blew my mind. It’s bit of a weird show but it would be cool to hear my song on that haha.

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You have toured with sold out shows in the USA, UK, Europe and Australia. Do you have a favourite show you’ve ever played?

It would be when I played two Corner Hotel shows back to back in Melbourne! I played to 1800 people over 2 nights which blew my mind because only 6 months before that I supported another band there and no one knew who I was.

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Where would you like to tour/perform that you’ve never been?

I’d love to play in Brazil because I get soooo many messages from people saying I have to get over there!

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‘Waves’ peaked at number 12 on the ARIA Charts and was certified 3 x platinum In 2017. How did it feel to have so much success with your first single?

It was so cool! You really appreciate the team around you that helps you get there. It’s such a big operation behind the scenes and I’m so glad I can just focus on writing songs and everything else gets sorted!! To be honest I’m not one to really take it all in. I’m aware it could all stop at any minute so I’m obsessed with trying to make the song as good or better!

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Does your previous success with tracks ‘Waves’, ‘Need You Now’, and ‘Lose My Mind’ make it easier to create new music? Or do you find the expectations overwhelming?

It’s something that actually gives me confidence. I wrote Lose My Mind and Chemicals very very quickly and was alone in my room for both of those. I didn’t overthink what I was doing. So I see the reaction that those songs are having and you start to trust your instincts more! It wasn’t until after I released my EP that I started liking my voice, and not being constantly insecure if I would sound good on a recording. I’m not trying to sound humble as I think this is something so many musicians go through!! It’s a freeing thing when you go “Ok don’t worry about your voice, its fine – just worry about trying to make it great”

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Photographer : Dani Brown

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What most inspires you to create music?

To be honest it’s other songs and other moments. It could be 7pm and I’ll be on my laptop and someone will release a new song and I’ll listen and go “God dammit that’s good, I want to write something now” then I pick up a guitar.

I was staying at the Sunset Marquis in Los Angeles this week and I picked up my guitar randomly and this new riff came out and I couldn’t stop playing it. So I started writing immediately. The melody and words start dictating what it’s about, then I’ll pick something specific that’s happened, or maybe imagine something and I’ll just do it over and over again the next few days until I have something finished.

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What one song would you recommend someone listen to if it was their first time listening to your music?

I’d probably say Chemicals as it’s the easiest to listen to!

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Have you ever asked a musician or band for a photo or autograph?

No! But I saw Van McCann from Catfish and the Bottlemen at the airport once and said hello and I’m a big fan!

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What are your goals for 2018 with your music career?

There are so many, but the main one is to recreate the success I’ve been lucky enough to have in Australia, in the USA! The songs are there and I have an amazing team – we are all very excited for this year!!

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Connect With DEAN LEWIS:

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AMNPLIFY – KH