“Deify: a career in the making” – from jam sessions to stage performances.

Produced by:  Erica Borowski, Katie Pietzold, Kyle McGreevy-Mills

What started off as after school “jam sessions” with friends soon turned into a career in the making. “When I was pregnant with my firstborn…I told my husband I hoped the child would play in a rock band,” explains Karen Byargeon, mother to all three band members of the rock band Deify. Duncan and his brothers were exposed to music by both of their parents at a very young age.

“Even today, we have speakers in the house that are constantly playing music,” says Preston Byargeon, the boys’ father and husband to Karen. There is no doubt that Preston and Karen’s influence had prompted their sons to form Deify. As of May, Deify is now regularly playing shows throughout the Pacific Northwest to promote their upcoming album “Between the Lines.”

As parents, Karen and Preston are proud of their sons’ accomplishments. “Duncan has become [a] more passionate, creative and focused person because of his band. Most beautiful of all is the close bond he developed with his two brothers,” says Karen. “It’s the greatest gift a parent could ask for.” The eldest son, Duncan Byargeon, was initially reluctant to work with his younger siblings, Jared, 15, and Erik, 18. However, the group eventually came together and recently produced their own album independently.

With a strong passion for writing lyrics, Duncan found that expressing himself through music was something that came naturally to him. Drawing inspiration from personal relationships, world events, and emotional experiences enables him to write lyrics with depth and meaning. However, Duncan possesses a range when it comes to his writing. While writing “Outta My League” with the help of Jared, the two made an effort to craft a tongue in cheek rebuttal to pop love songs.

The longest he has ever spent composing lyrics for a song was roughly four years, constantly trying to improve its quality. Duncan took it as far as actually re-recording the song just before the final touches on the band’s upcoming album was going to be completed. He explains, “While I do love the music aspect of it, lyrics I feel like, you have to have good lyrics for a good song.”

However, Duncan’s attention to detail and the need for precision in his writing doesn’t seem to bother his brothers. Each brother has different strengths in the band –  Erik’s is playing the bass and piano, while Jared excels at playing the drums. “[A]s far as writing goes, I’m definitely the least involved and I trust what Duncan comes up with,” says Erik.

Performing in front of a live audience may be intimidating to some — but not Duncan. The adrenaline rush he receives from singing in front of a crowd isn’t due to nervousness, it’s simply because he’s excited. Interacting with the audience in an authentic way is important to him; for he’s witnessed other bands who “try too hard” to appear cool. For Duncan, looking into a crowd of strangers who are singing along to the chorus of songs and showing enthusiasm towards the band is a reassuring and worthwhile feeling.

Duncan believes that Deify is a career in the making and hopes to someday make it one. “It’s definitely my passion,” he says. “I want to go into music in any way, shape, or form that I can. But my hope is to be recording music full time, touring, and doing all that.”

Meanwhile, Karen and Preston are proud of wherever their sons decide to take their music. “No matter how successful the group is, the boys will always have this bond of music,” says Preston.