Led by the unique voice and creative mind of Brandon Decker, decker. is gearing up to release his latest album, Into the Red, on August 25th, 2017 via the Royal Potato Family decker. Into the Red gathers some of the finest moments from decker.’s six album discography thus far, offering a bird’s eye view of the artist’s remarkable journey as a songwriter and performer. The collection reveals him to be a craftsman of the highest caliber, shedding light on why he has been steadily growing in regard as a songwriter with a fierce and distinct outlook to his work. As with all offerings, decker.’s palette of folk, gospel, rock and psychedelia is covered throughout on Into the Red, and his a full testament as to why Decker is one of the country’s most criminally underrated songwriters.
Glide is proud to premiere the reimagining of The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and The Doors “5 to 1” where decker. put its very own stamp on the song combo, enabling it to sound all original. Glide also had a chance to talk to the always candid Brandon Decker about the album and why the vast masses need to hear decker.
Aside from your stellar original material, you have thoughtfully chosen some great covers from Modest Mouse and PJ Harvey. How did you choose “I Wanna Be Your Dog” with The Doors “5 to 1” as a song to reimagine as a decker. song?
For years we had sought one of those defining-type cover songs for our set. Something that we made ours and performed powerfully. “I Wanna Be Your Dog” just kind of happened upon us one night while messing around on one of those longer bar-type gigs that we do and has stuck around since. It almost immediately became a poignant moment in the live set. The medley with The Doors’ “Five to One” happened probably a few weeks after we began performing it. When thinking of songs we wanted to record and include on this album, we wanted the songs to be protest music of sorts, or at least powerful statements. The Stooges and The Doors, to me, were a different kind of protest music. It was protest by way of anger, insanity, sometimes even vulgarity. We obviously have a different spin on how we do it, but I think the song runs with a certain unease, intensity and grit that offers a proper tip of the hat to Iggy as well as The Doors’ sentiments.
You said you were a Doors fan when younger and have recently come back to them. Why do you think our tastes for bands sometimes go away and then come back with a bigger appreciation than prior? Any other bands from your youth that have swung back into your tastes?
Ha, well this summer I listened to a great deal of Cake. My 6-year-old son has been developing some questionable music tastes when with his mother and I had to try and bridge the gap, and Cake did just that. Truly impressive musicianship and clever songwriting. But nothing like The Doors I can think of. We were rocking it on tour this year and just really appreciating the musicianship that I didn’t grasp when I was a teen and not performing.
Into the Red is a career spanning album compilation covering six albums you’ve released since 2009. Why is now a good time for a career spanner?
Largely because of my bank account balance. 😉 When Kevin from Royal Potato Family delightfully said he was willing to work on a project with me, he thought we needed to follow our last album, Snake River Blues, sooner than later and the band and I really wanted to get some content that addressed the election out; the sooner the better. But all that said, we’ve been literally recording or touring an album for basically eight years straight and I felt like, at that clip didn’t allow all of our albums to breathe thoroughly. So, a recap seemed reasonable. The vast masses have not heard any of our music.
Did it ever cross your mind to almost (tongue in cheek) call it a Greatest Hits album?
No, but I did consider “d sides” as a double entendre and also “pecker.” with an album cover of like Nilsson Schmillson meets Hugh Hefner.
It’s said you have never written a song outside of Sedona – is that true and did you ever think about doing some songs outside?
I wrote for my first project in Phoenix a decade or so ago but no decker. song has been written outside of Sedona, except for one called “In the Van,” which we route in the van en route to SXSW one year. Music and music business are so left brain, right brain. It takes so much of my energy and resources to do the non-musical part that I just can’t get in the space to write. I’m usually quite exhausted. I have to be in more of a homeostasis to get to where I can write. It’s all about having the presence for me to evoke.
What direction do you see your next album going?
I’m already in study mode. It’s Moby Dick meets Phil Spector. It will be a great American epic.
You recently filmed a documentary with Matty Steinkamp called Snake River Blues – that shows your ability to persevere as an artist and how you’ve given your all into making music your career. I think your story shows a tenacity and strength many artists don’t have – what do you attribute that to?
Thank you. Desperation. 🙂 But really hunger. I can’t explain the hunger, but I just want to get ears and hearts on it. I want to share. If just the music were enough, we’d all stay in our bedrooms and play and get a real job. For me, part of the whole process is that others share in it. There’s a pride as well, if I’m honest — probably akin to an athlete — of wanting to show what we’re made of.
You performed 22 shows in 23 days in NYC area recently – how was that experience for you overall and would you do it again?
Grueling. My body literally revolted a few weeks after getting home. I love everything about what we did — the tenacity and guts — truly one of my proudest accomplishments, taking my music to New York. But it was grossly underfunded and under-supported logistically. I don’t think physically or emotionally Amber or myself could repeat it as it was. But I’d love to come live in New York for a period again!
You are proud to call Arizona your home but as a touring artist cities are so far apart – did you ever consider other areas to call a home base to be more connected physically to more markets?
I briefly considered going back to California early on but fatherhood had other plans for me. And I’m okay with that. That said, I think one of the jobs of an artist, at least my job, is to get out and perform as many places as I can, so, a home base is less important. Can I hob nob at some bar six nights a week and try to network? No. But I wouldn’t do that anyway and I doubt I’d have much inspiration if I were to. Another of my jobs is to make the best art I can and Sedona suits that. I can get to the markets I want at least once a year and I’m hoping that will work. It’ll have to I reckon.
Into The Red is out August 25th via Royal Potato Family. Pre-order is going on now, as this is the first time decker. is releasing his music on a nationally distributed label…
decker. Tour Dates
8/26 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom ^
9/15 – Los Angeles, CA – The Hi-Hat
9/17 – Chico, CA – Naked Lounge
9/18 – Arcata, CA – Jambalaya
9/19 – Ashland, OR – Oberon’s Tavern
9/20 – Seattle, WA – Conor Byrne Pub
9/21 – Portland, OR – Twilight
9/22 – San Francisco, CA – Brick and Mortar Music Hall *
9/23 – Oceanside, CA – Pour House
10/20 – New York, NY – Union Pool
^ Record Release Show Presented By Mescal Porch Collective w/ Paper Foxes, Wyves, Harrison Fjord
