Biography
Deon Blyan is an Albertan in the truest sense of the label: he’s got small town roots and ambition that slightly exceeds his geography, flavoured by a newly found and still slightly green urban sophistication. This leads to songs laced equally with frustration and hope built on a solid melodic foundation adopted from John Cougar, Neil Finn and maybe now and again a bit of Squeeze.
The first thing you will notice at a Deon Blyan show is that he’s got a command of vocal range and emotion that instantly draws a crowd. Then you’ll start to notice the hooks. Deon is a pop songwriter and mixes story-based lyrics with well-barbed tunes that you’ll find bouncing around in the back of your head days and weeks after you thought they’d been forgotten.
Deon came to Edmonton in 1994 and started playing drums and guitar with local bands, but rapidly developed a reputation in the community as a pop songwriter and solo performer. Deon's first record, "Simple" was a live acoustic record, but the strong songwriting caught the ear of Edmonton producer Stew Kirkwood (Welcome, Sound Extractor) who brought Deon into his studio to produce "Try To Be Kind”, Deon’s first full length studio recording. Try to Be Kind was picked up by Edmonton indie-star label Shameless Records and crossed North America via the airwaves.
On the new record, Lessons(and other things learned), Deon continues to show growth as both a writer and a player, milking more and more out of his vocals and guitar playing. For this second recording Deon teamed up with the pop producing duo James Murdoch and Chris Wynters, allies in the struggle to produce smart and original Canadian pop songs. You’re going to recognize the Blue Rodeo in his rural roots and the Crowded House in his late ‘80s musical education. But you’re also going to get mariachi trumpet, banjo, hammond and a patchwork quilt of audio delights.
Now based in Calgary Alberta, he has been sharing the stage with such talented and notable artist's as Luke Doucet, Danny Michel, Andy White, Aaron Booth, Paul Bellows, Jonathan Inc., David Ross MacDonald, Serena Ryder, Mathew Barber, Jill Barber, Lindy, Joel Kroeker, Shuyler Jansen, James Murdoch and Chris Wynters, winning a loyal fan base and the respect of his peers.
Since the release of "lessons"...
CD release tour dates in Toronto, Edmonton and Calgary.
Radio;
Featured artist on CBC "In the Key of A"
Featured artist on CKUA "Luka and Nightcap"
Live appearance and performance on CJSW Calgary "Folkcetera"
Live appearance and performance on CJSR Edmonton "Fake it till you make it"
Live appearance and performance on CKUA Calgary "The Afternoon Edition" with David Ward
Live performance and appearance on City TVs morning show BT in Calgary
- Canadian Music Week Showcase at The Dakota Tavern in Toronto
- USA debute showcase July 22nd at Kenny's Castaways (Greenwich Village) in New York City, New York.
Instrumentation
Deon Blyan
singer / songwriter / guitar player
Discography
"Lessons (and other things learned)"
October 9th 2007!on Shameless Records Canada
Tracklist
1. The Little Things
2. (Tomorrow) It'll be alright
3. Not The Time
4. Shine Again
5. I Won't be far
6. Can't Afford
7. Under the Sun
8. On The Outside
9. Thing called fate
10. Blackbird Promise
11. War and Peace
12. Don't pass me by
For this second recording Deon teamed up with the pop producing duo James Murdoch (indica / aquarius) and Chris Wynters (sixshooter), allies in the struggle to produce smart and original Canadian pop songs.
"Try To Be Kind" (Out of print)
2002 on Shameless Records Canada
Deon's strong songwriting caugt the ear of Edmonton producer Stew Kirkwood (Welcome, Sound Extractor) who brought Deon into his studio to produce "Try To Be Kind", a 9 song roots rock record that is affable to radio, car stereo, and dancing shoes alike. Kirkwoods attention to song structure and sonics is evident in this sophmore release, and Blyan comes across as a mature songwriter at the top of his game.
In 2002 filmaker William Beauchamp used 7 of the 9 songs from the record as a soundtrack for the film "Pariahs" which went on to win it's category at the Toronto International Film festival. Beauchamp worked with Blyan that same year to film a video for the song "I Won't Be Far".
Links
| http://www.deonblyan.com |