{"id":19966,"date":"2020-10-22T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T16:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/?p=19966"},"modified":"2020-10-24T11:54:39","modified_gmt":"2020-10-24T18:54:39","slug":"video-premiere-interview-artist-lee-dewyze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/2020\/10\/video-premiere-interview-artist-lee-dewyze\/","title":{"rendered":"Video Premiere & Interview Artist: LEE DEWYZE"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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Video Premiere & Web-Exclusive Interview
<\/strong>
Artist:\u00a0\u00a0LEE DeWYZE
<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Video:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWeeds<\/strong>\u201d<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

AMERICAN IDOL WINNER LEE DeWYZE PREMIERES EMOTIONALLY POWERFUL NEW SINGLE \u201cWEEDS\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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https:\/\/youtu.be\/lE4wAawKTGA<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

American\u00a0Idol\u00a0winner\u00a0and Mavelle\/InGrooves\/Universal artist Lee DeWyze is back with a new single\/video \u201cWeeds.\u201d We are proud to premiere this emotionally powerful song with an artistically imaginative video.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

American\u00a0Idol\u00a0winner\/RCA Records artist,\u00a0Lee DeWyze, is back with a new single\/video \u201cWeeds.\u201d We are proud to premiere this emotionally powerful song with an artistically imaginative video.

DeWyze rose to international fame as the winner of the ninth season of\u00a0American Idol<\/em>\u2014with over 24 million people watching the final show when the winner was revealed. But beyond that,\u00a0a lot of his story is his songwriting.\u00a0He has had over 60 syncs in film, TV and commercials.\u00a0He also co-writes with many artists including the band The Mowgli\u2019s and Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave. His latest co-write was with Rita Wilson, who performed their song this summer on\u00a0The Late Late Show with James Corden<\/em>.

Every once in a while, there\u2019s a song that cuts through the clutter and chaos\u2014and shines so that we are able to see things in a different light. DeWyze\u2019s simple and precise production delivers an emotionally powerful \u201cWeeds.\u201d

When asked about the song, DeWyze says it \u201cexplores the nature of love and relationships and how that parallels the cycle of life\u2014how some things can be found when you don\u2019t even know you\u2019re looking for them. It\u2019s about finding beauty in the most unsuspecting places.\u201d

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Every once in a while, there\u2019s a song that cuts through the clutter and chaos\u2014and shines so that we are able to see things in a different light. DeWyze\u2019s simple and precise production delivers an emotionally powerful \u201cWeeds.\u201d

<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We talked with Lee DeWyze about what inspires his creative process, how he loves the art of weaving stories in song, what keeps him hopeful in these unique times, and how honesty in music helps him connect with the listener.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Lee DeWyze<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Interview<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

with\u00a0M Music & Musicians<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>magazine publisher,\u00a0Merlin David<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How did the idea of \u201cWeeds\u201d come to you?
<\/strong>\u201cWeeds\u201d explores the nature of love and relationships and how that parallels the cycle of life\u2014how some things can be found when you don\u2019t even know you\u2019re looking for them. It\u2019s about growing and learning to be vulnerable\u2014how a time, place and moment can play such a crucial part in where we end up and how we got there. \u201cWeeds\u201d is about finding beauty in the most unsuspecting places. It\u2019s a lot about reflection. I wanted the instrumentation to feel organic. That\u2019s how the idea of the strings came in\u2014with that classical strings feeling and the songwriter folky vibe. It\u2019s a personal song and I wanted the listener to feel the song was written for them. It felt very conversational to me from the very beginning and I wanted to keep that feeling throughout the song.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Tell us about creative video.<\/strong>
I met this amazing artist, Stefano Bertelli. I saw a video of his and I loved how organic it was\u2014how accessible it was to the mind. Seeing something on paper makes it feel physical\u2014like you can touch it and you\u2019re in it. I just thought his work was beautiful. I reached out when we released my single \u201cCastles.\u201d It\u2019s been a wonderful journey to work with him. This is my third video with Stefano. I love working with him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

At a young age, I fell in love with the storytelling aspect of music through the likes of Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, Peter, Paul & Mary. My dad used to constantly play vinyl in our household. He had an amazing record collection. It was the combination of that, alongside the harmonies, that made me fall in love with the idea of being a songwriter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What songwriting tip would you like to offer?<\/strong>
Be present with your songs when you are writing them. I have always written in the moment. If I\u2019m feeling a certain way, I like to write in that feeling. When I do the music at that time\u2014it is in its most honest form. For me, honesty in music is what helps me connect with the listener.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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What instruments\/equipment can you not live without?<\/strong>
This may be an obvious answer, but my Gibson Songwriter acoustic guitar. Other than the Gibson J-45, it\u2019s the best acoustic guitar. I love having it at the ready for songwriting. I like a capo because it allows me to expand the palette. I use a Kyser capo. I\u2019ve had it for years. I just love the ease of it. I probably have 40 of them lying around. In fact, I used the Kyser capo on this song, \u201cWeeds.\u201d The classic Kyser is reliable\u2014every time. Live or in the studio\u2014it\u2019s always solid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Tell us why the guitar is so integral to your sound?
<\/strong>The guitar is like another voice\u2014it\u2019s a call and response with the vocal. I like experimenting with how I play the song. I like changing picking patterns. I am a believer in less is more\u2014so I work on the way a song is delivered. Vocally, I\u2019m particular on how I want my vocals to sound on a song. I\u2019m all about my Peluso microphone. They\u2019re an old-school, tube mic vibe. I can literally record anything on that mic. I love the way it helps my vocals. The sound of the guitar is so important to help me determine how the song will feel\u2014especially when I\u2019m playing acoustic guitar. I also have a Takamine that I love, and I have a Breedlove that I\u2019ve really gotten into\u2014my wife got that for me as a gift. I use a classic Shure SM58 for my live performances. With the right reverb, it just works. I love taking it to intimate shows and adding a large sound.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Which Top 5 Musicians\u00a0inspired you to become a musician?<\/strong>
Cat Stevens, Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel), Elliot Smith, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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What are your Top 5 favorite albums of all time?<\/strong>
My answer today is:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Tea for the Tillerman<\/em>\u00a0(1970) \u2014 Cat Stevens<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Greatest Hits\u00a0<\/em>(1972) \u2014 Simon & Garfunkel<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Plans<\/em>\u00a0(2005) \u2014 Death Cab for Cutie<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Pet Sounds<\/em>\u00a0(1966) \u2014 The Beach Boys<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Either\/Or<\/em>\u00a0(1997) \u2014 Elliott Smith

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Tell us a \u201cpinch me\u201d moment when you thought \u201cWow, this is really happening to me!<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>
<\/em>Sharing the stage with Joe Cocker\u2014was truly an honor and something I will never forget.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What\u2019s the biggest impact of winning\u00a0American Idol<\/em>?<\/strong>
American Idol<\/em>\u00a0allowed so many people to see me\u2014all at one time. It allowed a lot of people to get to know who I am\u2014very quickly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is the best advice someone has given you?<\/strong>
Joe Cocker told me that it\u2019s easy to believe that when you get up on a stage, people are rooting against you, when in reality\u2014they\u2019re rooting for you. That\u2019s always stuck with me.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n


What\u2019s the best advice you\u2019d like to give your teenage self?<\/strong>
Appreciate the process. While things may take time, it\u2019s the time you put in that helps elevate you to where it is you want to go.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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How do you remain hopeful in this strange and unique socio-political time?
<\/strong>Staying creative\u2014any way possible\u2014musically or not, always keeps my mind and life in balance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

www.LeeDewyzeOfficial.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Where can new fans get more info and stay updated?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Instagram: @leedewyzeofficial<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Twitter: @LeeDeWyze<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Facebook.com\/leedewyze<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Video Premiere & Web-Exclusive InterviewArtist:\u00a0\u00a0LEE DeWYZE Video:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWeeds\u201d AMERICAN IDOL WINNER LEE DeWYZE PREMIERES EMOTIONALLY POWERFUL NEW SINGLE \u201cWEEDS\u201d American\u00a0Idol\u00a0winner\u00a0and Mavelle\/InGrooves\/Universal artist Lee DeWyze is back with a new single\/video \u201cWeeds.\u201d We are proud to premiere this emotionally powerful song with an artistically imaginative video. American\u00a0Idol\u00a0winner\/RCA Records artist,\u00a0Lee DeWyze, is back with a new single\/video \u201cWeeds.\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19974,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7725],"tags":[12291,12292,1354,12293,10590,3592,12294,12295,12296,10592,810,811,12300,8386,12297,12298,12299,12301,3112,10386,9850,12191,7257,12302,7566,6199,12318,3010,7978,12304,1857,12306,10560,12305,12303,12107,12307,964,12309,12308,12310,4812,3355,8950,12311,12230,9803,2642,12313,12312,7233,12314,12315,12316],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19966"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19966"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19966\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19984,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19966\/revisions\/19984"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmusicmag.com\/m\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}