Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: We’ve been playing music together for about 11 years. We met at the Firehouse Lounge open mic in downtown Austin and began to collaborate (and date). We just got married last November.
Music was always present and influential to each of us from an early age. Listening to the radio on the way to school, singing in the car with parents and friends, going to our first concerts, learning our first instruments. Movie soundtracks played a big role as well.
Alyssa started playing violin in fifth grade and went to college for music which is where she first started singing, writing, and playing piano. Matt started playing guitar at age 12 and started singing in freshman year of high school when he joined his first band.
Q: Can you describe the musical style of Deer Fellow in three words?
A: Cozy indie pop
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: Social media, email blasts, streaming platforms, live shows. We often feel like we are shouting out to a big empty void on the internet so hearing from our fans really keeps us going; knowing a real person is actually listening to and connecting with our music.
Q: You have just released your new album, ‘Hues’. Is there a story behind it?
A: ‘Hues’ explores how our emotional “colors” shape the way we move through the world. Every feeling — light or dark — plays a role, and life is richest when we embrace the full spectrum. Each song on the album embraces a different shade of emotion. The titular song was inspired by the shifting color mechanics of the video game Hue and we decided to run with it for the whole album concept.
Q: What is your favorite track from the album and why?
A: Matt’s favorite – “Pep In My Step” because of the overall groove and the fun chorus elements
Alyssa’s favorite – This is a hard question! “So Low” was my favorite one to produce because it was really bare bones when I wrote it and it was fun to get it to this epic place with all the violins and vocal layering, “Easier” is very special because it’s the first song we really wrote together, and I just really love the way “Fool For You” turned out
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the album, “Hues”?
A: We first recorded the bare bones of the songs and then sat with each one until the production ideas began to unfold, whether it be adding textures like atmospheric synth or layered violin lines or quirky drum patterns and the like. The hard part was knowing when to stop!
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for Deer Fellow so far?
A: The 2025 Sonic Guild Ball at The Long Center
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: “So Low” is a unique and personal one that dives into the nuances of depression. It can be quite therapeutic to write out difficult feelings and let them live on the page and in a song, not just in your body.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into Deer Fellow’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: We typically write songs separately, with the exception of the song “Easier” on this album. One of us will mess around on guitar or piano until finding a set of chords we like. Then we come up with vocal melody ideas that fit over the chords, usually with some filler lyrics that we later flesh out into a clear concept. Sometimes a lyrical spark will come from a movie or a line in a book. Sometimes we know a general idea of what we want the song to be about going in, which shapes the sound of the song and other times the vibe of the music itself will dictate what the song’s meaning will be.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: We are both full-time musicians and at this stage in our career that means we play a lot of not-so-glamorous shows to pay the bills. Our ultimate goal is to be able to make a living on our original music alone. We are always looking ahead to the next big accomplishment we want to achieve but we really have come such a long way over the last 11 years and are proud of where we are. Thank you to each and every person who listens to and shares our music. It means the world to us.
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