Daily Inspiration: Meet Britton Deuel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Britton Deuel. 

Hi Britton, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Growing up in Norfolk, Nebraska was about as average as it gets for a midwestern kid. I spent my youth playing sports, delivering the local newspaper, and hating the piano lessons I was forced to take. It was a rule in my parents’ household that I was required to play an instrument. So, I did what any angsty young boy would do…I started playing drums. I loved it! My parents were supportive in that way. Eventually, I became the kid that would spend hours at the local record store, combing the shelves for new releases, rarities, and old records that would become new friends to me. I quickly became obsessed with the liner notes and lyric sheets that accompanied every record, which is about when I started getting interested in recording. I began playing guitar and writing when I was 15, documenting every line on my mom’s portable tape recorder. 

At the time, my brother-in-law had a band and they would host a few pretty big shows in and around Norfolk annually. Throughout my junior high and high school years, he always gave me an opportunity to join them on stage for a few songs. He also exposed me to my very first recording session in a professional studio. I was hooked. 

I started playing solo acoustic sets in college around campus, but it wasn’t until I moved to Fort Collins, Colorado that I started writing more seriously. I played every open mic in town and after a while, I found a few bars where I played 3–4-hour gigs and really began honing it in. I made my first record in Fort Collins at a friend’s studio and that whole experience solidified the direction I wanted to take in life. 

I had a good job in Fort Collins at the time, but eventually, I felt the urge to go back to school for audio engineering. After some research, I stumbled on The Blackbird Academy here in Nashville and it sounded like a great fit. So, my wife and I packed everything up, moved to Nashville and I started school again. I was also fortunate enough to get a job at The Bluebird Cafe within the first few weeks of moving here, which was like enrolling in a masterclass on songwriting to say the least. The Bluebird has offered me some incredible opportunities over the years. 

I completed a couple studio internships after graduating from Blackbird and was eventually introduced to Jason Lehning by one of my instructors. Jason was gracious enough to open his studio doors to a young producer and became my mentor for the next few years. I learned a ton under his guidance and am grateful for that experience. I began working more and more independently on other artists’ records and was able to go full-time producing and mixing. I’ve also since recorded and released another solo record, titled “Sundowner.” 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m not sure a smooth road exists in any artistic career path. On a personal level, I think one of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to manage is to get out of my own way. Overthinking the process is a habit that I have had to learn to break over the years. You have to constantly believe in yourself and believe that you still have something to say and to give to the world around you even at times when the self-doubt is crippling. The most important thing that I’ve learned from these experiences is to just keep listening to what your heart is telling you. You have to push past any doubt that lingers and keep writing, playing, learning, and collaborating as much as possible. If you don’t show up, nothing happens. It’s also very important to surround yourself with people who are supportive and who also believe in what you’re doing. That piece of the puzzle cannot be underestimated. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am mainly a songwriter and producer. And within those boundaries, I specialize in Americana, Folk, and Rock. I’m proud of every project that I’ve been able to be a part of so far, though at this moment in time, I feel the most proud of the solo record that I released in 2020, “Sundowner,” and a record I that produced, recorded and mixed called “Oakview” by Red River Hymn. They released that record in September of 2021. I spent a good amount of time working with them before we even stepped into the studio crafting each song and honing the general vibe that they wanted. That was a very enjoyable process for me. 

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Persistence is the key to any artistic endeavor. Never give up! 

Contact Info:

• Email: brittondeuelmusic@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.brittondeuel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittondeuel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrittonDeuel
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/214ImePfubP1jpQ9SnfJS8?si=ret5K6MDRTSNfb4H8ojJhQ

Image Credits
Bert White
Neal Johnston