We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dave Desmelik. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dave below.

Dave, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned to play bass guitar and guitar in high school a number of moons ago. I always felt connected to music from an early age, and I had wonderful teachers to guide me in the basic learning process of music. However, I learned the most simply by wanting to practice and play and get better. I was the kid who would come home from school and lock himself in his room and play guitar and bass and try to figure out by ear my favorite songs at the time. Hours and hours upon hours spent doing that and it gave me a great foundation. I was passionate about it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

“Desmelik reminds me of the reasons I got into bed with Americana on the first date. An unpretentious approach to songwriting and performance, gritty and generic without being predictable, his songs show an excellent range.” -americana-uk.com

Dave Desmelik is a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist whose musical focus is on original compositions. What attracts listeners to Desmelik’s tunes, old and new, is the element of authenticity incorporated in them. There is no sugar coating involved. His songs are not wrapped in false smiles, rather they are stark and open and tend to settle on the pulse of everyday life. An unclosed and evolving journal of thoughts set to music and melodies in prose and instrumental performance. Desmelik was born and raised just outside of Atlanta, GA, but has traveled and lived in a multitude of landscapes. He currently resides in Brevard, NC. He was an original member of Onus B. Johnson, a successful band based in Flagstaff, AZ in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. This band was on the front wave of jamgrass while maintaining the passion for songwriting. Today, Desmelik continues to pursue an ascending path as a solo artist.

A seasoned veteran of recording and performing, Desmelik states of his career thus far, “I have recorded in state of the art studios and bedroom closets. I have performed on big festival stages for numerous people and in lonely corners in dive bars for three people and the bartender. Either way, what you get is me with my eyes closed getting lost in these songs. I have chosen the life of a songwriter and musician not because I wish to, or have to, but because I want to and need to. It is my therapy and in this regard the door to my sessions are open.”

Desmelik has released 16 albums to date as well as two albums with his former band Onus B. Johnson. Onus B. Johnson was a Band Finalist at the 2001 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition and was voted Flagstaff’s best band three times. He was the winner of the 2002 Flagstaff Awards for Music Excellence (FAME) award for best singer-songwriter. Desmelik’s song “If It’s Good For You” was chosen in the Top 25 Songs of 2010 by Indie-Music.com. His albums have placed consistently on the EuroAmericana Chart, Roots Music Report, Freeform American Roots Chart, and North Carolina Roots Radio Chart. Dave’s albums have also been voted repeatedly in the “Best Releases” by the listeners of WNCW radio as well as being voted in the “Best Of” Mountain Xpress Readers’ Poll. His recordings have been reviewed in a number of reputable publications and online music sources such as Maverick Magazine (UK), Southeast Performer Magazine, americana-uk.com and nodepression.com (Flyinshoes Reviews) to name a few. He has toured extensively in support of his songs including numerous performances in the USA and UK. Some notable artists Desmelik has opened for and/or shared the stage with are Paul Thorn, Drivin’ N Cryin’, Tony Furtado, Robbie Fulks, Chuck Brodsky, Richard Buckner, The Black Lillies, Cary Hudson, Bow Thayer, Shawn Mullins, Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey among others.

If you listen to Dave Desmelik’s songs, whether lyrical or instrumental, you may become pleasantly fixed in the simplistic realness of them and if you hear Desmelik in a live setting you may realize that there are no tricks, just a genuine venture into the highs and lows of life.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In my view, the best thing society can do to support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem is to buy directly from the artists or use a platform that supports the artist in a fair way. I know we live in a digital age that will only get more digital, so this is a strange pipe dream in a way I know. Nevertheless, this is my view as a DIY independent artist. Support the artists directly when possible… we are here and want to connect!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me and a multitude of other artists I’m sure, there are many rewarding aspects of being an artist/creative. It’s difficult to pinpoint just one, but certainly the pure connection through music and song…. It’s real and when someone you’ve never met or someone that maybe you have met approaches you after a performance or hearing a song of yours somewhere and tells you ‘thanks’ and really means it…. well that’s a genuine connection through your art…. and that’s powerful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.davedesmelikmusic.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.desmelik/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/davedezmo
• Other: https://davedesmelik.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
Vickie Burick