Derek Vanderhorst creates super glue bonds with friends, family, and strangers on his new album Be Kind, out July 12
Guests on the album include Steve Poltz, John Mailander, Frank Evans, Brook Sutton and Jamie Dick
With his poetic tenor voice, Derek Vanderhorst sings about his past, current issues, and hope for the future on his second album, Be Kind, out on July 12. This 12-song album was recorded at Oliver Woods – The Studio in Nashville, TN, produced by Brook Sutton and John Mailander with Frank Evans as a co-producer. His friend Steve Poltz joins him on the title track, “Be Kind.”
“[“Be Kind”] Is a love letter to all those who are different and a reminder to embrace all the quirks that make us all unique. I was honored to have my friend, Steve Poltz, join me on this one, as he really is the mascot for embracing the weird,” smiles Derek.
Grab a stranger and hug them tight
Ask permission make sure it’s alright
We’re all strange, let’s get weird
Love your friends and keep them near
And most of all – Be Kind – “Be Kind”
As an acclaimed member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a successful Film Sound Designer and Re-recording Mixer in Hollywood, Derek is gifted at building a tapestry of melody and lyrics to paint pictures with sounds and words. The bluegrass-new-grass-folk arrangements are the perfect backdrop to Derek’s weathered voice.
The album opens with “Writing You A Love Song,” reminding us to take a moment to forget our troubles and honor the ones we love. “Into The Blue” is a reflective song about lifelong friendships. Another friendship song, “The Preacher’s Song,” is about the division dogmatic religious beliefs can cause between the ones we are closest to. Derek explores mental illnesses and emotional struggles in “Hear The Clock,” “Cold November,” and “Settle On In,” and you can hear the distress in his voice. A voice that changed after his own battle with Stage 4 Head and Neck Cancer and now laughs about it, “I sound like a sh**ty Bob Dylan.” Other voice comparisons are Neil Young, John Prine, and Oliver Wood. The song “The ABCs” was written for his two young nieces, Izadore and Kiki, and his wife, Jae, as a playful reminder of his love for them. The last song, “Lullaby,” is a sweet ending to the album, as it asks if you lived and loved well and if you were kind with your words.
10-gallon hat you wear all over town
Lets you hide from your sins
And you walk with a swagger
But you’re always walking slow
Cause that chip on your should still weighing you down – “The Lonely Poet”
The players on this album are world-class, starting with John Mailander, who plays with Billy Strings, Bruce Hornsby, The Wood Brothers, Frank Evans with the Slocan Ramblers, Ethan Jodziewicz, with Sierra Hull, and Jamie Dick, one of Nashville’s most sought-after studio drummers. During the recording sessions, Derek and the new band of brothers bonded over music, from the tall tale stories to songwriting to performing live.
Derek moved to Los Angeles from Colorado early in his career, seeking to be a working musician. He soon discovered a new skill and became the “go-to mixer” for blending dialogue and music to create powerful and emotive film soundscapes. Derek has worked with Adam Sandler, Fox, and Universal Films. His film credits include the Academy Award-nominated No Country for Old Men, Hidden Figures, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, X-men films, Tropic Thunder, and hundreds of others.
Derek was first introduced to music at the age of five with piano lessons but embraced guitar, mandolin, and banjo in his teens, leading up touring with his bands Leaf and The Rosemarys before being managed as a solo artist in the ’90s by Les Garland (Co-founder of MTV and VH-1). He put the guitar down for about 20 years while working in the L.A. film industry. In 2017, Derek was diagnosed with Stage 4 Head and Neck Cancer, causing him to lose his voice from severe radiation and chemotherapy. Ironically, this set the stage for his long recovery and the return to his passion for music. During this time, he worked with a vocal coach to strengthen his voice so he could talk and sing without any problems.
Derek’s journey to reclaim and reshape his life at 50 now sets the stage for his raw, cathartic, and humorous storytelling style. He currently resides in Colorado and will be moving to Nice, France, in September as he sets his sites touring Europe.
Be Kind reflects Derek’s philosophy in life: appreciate relationships past and present, give some grace to those struggling, embrace the weird, and most of all, be kind.
Derek will play at Dee’s Country Lounge in Madison, TN, on June 19 and then return to L.A. at The Hotel Café on July 13.
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