Written by Gina Porter and Tina Barnes, photos and interview by Tina Barnes.
You could call Deep Chatham a “gateway band”, as they blur the lines in categories of music with a style of folk that’s relevant to the current day. A band that someone, with no previous dixieland, folk or bluegrass exposure, could identify with and enjoy.
Pronounced “Deep Chatam”, after Chatham County, North Carolina, the band consists of founding members Julian Sikes on guitar and Jeff Loops on upright bass, as well as Matt Heckler on banjo and fiddle. As their name indicates their music is unique, relevant, and well.. Deep. It’s not so much literal, as it is more metaphorical and thought provoking. They paint vivid pictures with their lyrics. For example, as heard in the song “The Loaded” where they describe, “Rulers of wastelands that bask in the junkyards.”
They are a band who’s core values include the idea of slowing down to appreciate the proverbial “musical” rose. They show, and are shown, support for the musical community as a whole, instead of living separate and competitively from musicians of the same or varying genres. That sense of community has been a huge asset to Deep Chatham, and a vehicle for them to tour nationally without the help of a label or a band manager. Hospitality and open doors are readily available for the trio all across the country. They also hope to raise awareness for social movements, not by making “fight songs” per say, but by emphasizing the things in life that are so important as to warrant fighting to preserve them.
When asked if they were currently working on a new album, Julian shared that they just completed a secret album. Their large body of work, 40+ songs within their set rotation, is easily enough material for at least two additional albums. They will be doing a video for “Gully Song” as a promo for their new album. The band currently has a video for “Madeline” which was done by Jeff’s brother as they were recording Words From The Well. It’s a perfectly intimate look at the three musicians in their element.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxn05d7RjGM&feature=related
With my best friend, Gina Porter, in tow, we set out from Sacramento to some, yet to be determined, Berkeley street corner to chat with Deep Chatham and watch them in action. It’s worth mention that Gina, an avid Deep Chatham fan, was the driving force behind me ever having heard of this gem. Trusting her musical tastes, I gave them a listen and connected with them instantly. With piqued excitement and curiosity, we made the trip in our typically entertaining fashion. After a brief stop at a predictably wonderful Berkeley cafe, for some grub and caffeine upon arriving, we got the location of the street corner where we were to meet. We grabbed to go lids for our lattes and headed up hill.
Once we arrived, it became immediately apparent our corner had been taken over by a massive boom box and small crowd of dreads. Gina’s eagle eye had already spotted them further down the road, by the time we got notice anything had changed. We walked up in perfect time while they were setting up to play. The three gave off great first impressions. Quite the gentlemen, they carry themselves well and are very easy to talk to. It was a pleasure to hang out with them, and an even greater pleasure to hear them play. Small crowds would gather, as people stopped to enjoy the random treat. I noticed a strong response by young and old, men and women of all different race and style. Talent speaks for itself, and transcends all languages or boundaries. After a quite successful afternoon of busking (playing music on the street for money), the guys stuck around to chat. Here’s a bit of what they had to say…
You guys are playing shows in San Francisco and all over the Bay Area for some time. Do you come out to California quite a bit?
Jeff: Yea.
Matt: At least once a year.
How is the scene out here compared to the east coast.
Julian: Very friendly. Well no, the east coast has been good to us as well, but this area specifically, we have a lot of good people who take care of us.
Jeff: …and we can busk in Berkeley, we can busk all over the city, and there’s just a lot available to us. A lot of cities close together, a lot of big cities close together as opposed to the east coast where things are a little more spread out.
I could see you guys got a lot of love today.
Jeff: Yea (smiles) … we do pretty well.
Matt: I think because there’s a ton of musicians in Berkeley.
Well and the talent just kind of oozes off you guys, it’s great. You played a lot of songs today, but not necessarily much off of your album (Words From The Well). Are you guys working on another album right now?
Julian: We’ve already recorded a secret album that we’re not going to talk about here, but we’re also working on another full length. We have enough material for… two more albums.
Matt: …two or three more albums, yea. We’re doing a kick starter for our album coming out, and we’re gonna record it in North Carolina at the Rubber Room Studios with Andrew Marlin, the mandolin player from the last album. We’re gonna spend two weeks just trying to make it as golden as possible.
Is that going to be with the same record company? Or are you free agents?
Jeff: That’s…. yea, well we’re free agents… we just made up that name on the back of the album.
Oh really? (laughs)
(laughs)
Matt: Looks professional.
Nice!
Julian: Be Here Now Studios recorded the first one, and uh, we are our own record label. So wherever we want to record.
That’s awesome. Do you want to stay self promoted?
All three: Yea.
Julian: There hasn’t been a record label that’s come to us that could do anything that we couldn’t do ourselves.
Matt: We’ve run into a couple bands who are kind of in the same position we’re at right now, except they went to a label too soon and they all regret it. They’re not making money off it. They’re miserable having to tour. It’s kinda like a ball and chain. So the right thing, if it comes along would be perfect, but we’re kind of just waiting for it cuz we get around so much that we’ll find something… or something will find us. It’s good to hold out.
That’s cool too getting to create your own direction.
Jeff: Yea, it’s freeing.
It’s also great having that big community you were talking about.
Julian: That’s what makes it possible, is the good friends we have. Otherwise it’d be a little overwhelming trying to move around the country playing with different people.
(at that moment a group of girls walks by showing some love and Julian puts his cigarette in his mouth to receive a high five as they walk by)
Making some fans!
(laughs)
Jeff (to Julian): Did they say they heard us on the radio?
Julian: (shrugs) …I don’t know.
Jeff: We were on NPR yesterday.
Oh yea? That’s awesome. How’d that go?
Jeff: It went really well.
Matt: It was fun. It was for Woodie Guthrie’s 100th birthday. They’re doing all the Woody Guthrie play right now over at Freight & Salvage. They did a couple songs that were really good. It was awesome. Then we played a couple numbers… got interviewed…
Julian: It aired in 15 states, or something like that. It was the biggest radio interview we’ve done to date.
Jeff: Yea, it was pretty awesome.
Julian: Yea, and we got our foot in the door over at NPR.
Nice!
Matt: Now I’m going to be in my own magazine.
(laughs)
Yes! Matt Heckler (laughs) Well, you guys definitely fit with our vibe!
