Jared Deck takes life one fight at a time. Raised on the dusty plains of an Oklahoma family farm, Jared worked in the fields as well as the town grocery, owned by his parents. “In a community of 1,200 people, big dreams seem impossible. We’re taught to manage expectations, put our nose down, and get to work,” says Deck. He did exactly that.
When the family business saw hard times, Deck turned to the oilfield to pay for school. The oilfield provided for a time, but every boom has its bust. After the oilfield, Jared worked at a local factory until the jobs were outsourced to other countries. He started a business, but was hit hard by the recession. He even ran for political office but lost by a couple percentage points. Through every challenge and change, music remained the one constant in Jared’s life.
Desperate to supplement his business through the recession, Jared answered the classified ad of a small church in need of a pianist. Over the next six years, Jared received an unparalleled musical education. “It felt like relearning the piano, so I applied that concept to my songwriting.”
Deck’s writing has evolved and now presents the maturity of a man who has learned the hard way. “The pen is disruptive and inspiring,” says Deck. “It rattles me, reflecting moments and things about myself I might rather forget. But it also inspires me to face myself and become the man I’d rather be writing about.” That attitude is apparent in the writing of Jared’s self-titled, solo debut.
For his new album, Deck called upon Grammy-nominated producer Wes Sharon at 115 Recording. Sharon has produced some of the most lauded Americana artists of late, including John Fullbright, Parker Millsap, The Grahams and Turnpike Troubadours. In Sharon, Deck found a musical soulmate.
“Transitioning from Indie Rock to Americana was initially a bit scary, but the songwriters I’ve met around the state have welcomed me with open arms. Oklahoma has some of the best emerging talent in the nation, and calling these songwriters my friends has been integral to my musical and personal growth.”
Every boom may have its bust, but every dusk has its dawn. This hope, that there is always a way out, a way through, is an integral part of Jared’s songs of pain and promise. “When folks hear my music, I hope they see the sunrise, just as I did each morning from that oilfield tower.”
For more information, please visit Jared’s listing in the Oklahoma Music Directory.