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

Dean, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My partner doesn’t like talking about what my parents did right because of the differences I have with them. But I think it’s important because I am their child. I’m happy they gave me piano lessons and an education. They helped me find a keyboard and drums when I started making music in 9th grade. My mom taught me about being on stage and made me practice dancing and lip-syncing when I was little.

Even though my beliefs are different from my parents, they still supported me. I am not the person they hoped I would be, but they tried their best. I know I had a better start than many people. I didn’t know how much I had when I began making art.

I learned a lot from my parents and am lucky they took care of me. Now, my talks with them turn into songs that I make. There are still many things I want to say. What they did right wasn’t perfect, but it helps me and is beautiful in its own way. They taught me we sometimes don’t give ourselves what we need, and I remember that lesson when I create.

Dean, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a producer of music records, composer and songwriter who performs original work primarily on electronic instruments. I got into engineering records seriously when I was in college while switching between majors and schools. My discipline as a vocal performer and songwriter came through about a decade spent as a church music leader. That journey had me performing songs on keyboards, moving to guitars and then modular synths. The work I provide for clients now involves more technical jobs such as planning, mixing, composing and producing songs or scores. My unique contributions among the great artists in my field is the ability to bring ambient works to life like a modern electro-organist for silent films. I do what I can to avoid sidestepping the intricacies of the performed work by relying on a computer and have made many songs from MIDI sequences on floppy disks. I’m most proud of composing the scores for Kayla Schiltgen’s film dances, including Object Permanence, which premiered at the Walker Art Center last year. What new listeners and potential enjoyers of my music should know is that I love the simplicity of song more than just about anything. It’s a spiritual thing for me. I don’t consume enough to be tired of music. Designing a sound in response to the rhythms of the universe is among the most exhilarating acts. I’d be happy just staying there and I never get tired of making music because it is exciting. No project in my memory has been just a job. Every project is a gift and I look always forward to meeting new collaborators.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

While the system we’re living in, namely the organization of the economy, feels resistant to change I have no doubt that society is constantly reorganizing without us realizing it. The first thing we can do as a society is stop seeing ourselves as individuals separate from the artist, entrepreneur, worker for just a moment. Seeing ourselves as a collective can help us shed the scarcity mindset that causes gold-rushes, blitz-scaling and other toxically competitive aggressions. I know we can do better than negotiating for a piece of the pie while secretly taking bites out of that pie. Let’s get creative about growing the pie, be it through better streaming payouts, grants, loans, skill-shares or what-have-you.

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

Creating is like making a new language or word. It helps us learn about ourselves and understand others better. We can share stories that bring us closer together and discover new things about ourselves.

When we face hard times, being creative can help us heal. Creating is part of something bigger, and we shouldn’t claim it as only our own. Many people before us have made wonderful things that inspire us.

The rewarding part of the creative act is understanding the disarming beauty of something that previously didn’t even exist.

Contact Info:

• Website: deansibinski.com
• Instagram: deansibinski
• Facebook: facebook.com/deansibinskimusic
• Youtube: Dean Sibinski

Image Credits
Adrian Steinbach Photography R.W. Jackson Aaron Berger