Prescott Now: How long have you been playing?
Andrew deering: I have been playing in bands and as a solo performer for the last two decades of my life. I have the passion to play multiple instruments across multiple genres.
Playing music is a profound and exhilarating experience that brings my soul complete fulfillment. It’s as if each note I play becomes an extension of my soul, expressing emotions and thoughts that words alone cannot convey.
I first played music with my dad at home. My dad was a guitar player and he inspired me to start playing.
Prescott Now: What genre or genres of music do you play? What about them inspires you?
Andrew Deering: I don’t feel that I can be placed in the box of one genre. I play to my audience. I enjoy playing blended genres with my own personal touch in each one of them. Whatever I am playing, there is always an Americana baseline. It’s like playing music the way someone in the South would make shrimp and grits from scratch, deep and with love.
I am inspired by knowing my audience; feeling the vibe in the room helps me draw inspiration of the songs I play. I am completely flexible when it comes to a set list. If there are certain people in the room, I play for them, versus playing what I think people may want to hear.
Prescott Now: What is the key to being a successful musical act in Prescott and Northern Arizona?
Andrew Deering: My success is not defined by my gigs. It is defined by my friends. The ones who come out and just want to share time with me while I get to play music.
Being an integral part of the community is equally important to me as my music. My music tells a story, my community fills
my soul.
Prescott Now: What’s the smallest audience you’ve played for; the biggest?
Andrew Deering: I have played shows in front of four people in neighborhood bars and as large as 15,000 people at festivals.
Each one of my shows, no matter what the size of my audience, is my opportunity to interact with people and share my passion with someone who may be just passing through town; and I may be the reason they come back
Prescott Now: Where do you find your inspiration for your songwriting, performances?
Andrew Deering: My inspiration comes from my upbringing. In addition to music, there was always creativity in all forms of various art surrounding me. There was always music playing in my house.
The Deering family makes instruments, plays all instruments, and has a passion for all the arts.
Thinking back to some of the music that I draw my inspiration from, it would be from Jimmie Rodgers to Jimi Hendrix.
Prescott Now: What brought you to Prescott?
Andrew Deering: I grew up in Southern California, however I have been in and out of northern Arizona since I was a child. I spent many years in Austin, Texas, which left the biggest impression on me musically.
I had the opportunity to relocate to Prescott in 2019 to be closer to family. Moving to Prescott for me was an opportunity to live a more relaxed life, enjoying a small community that I can be a part of.
It’s not just being able to share my music, it’s about spending time fishing with my children and developing relationships with people that will last a lifetime.
