Robert Deeble
Seattle, Washington9 reviews across 3 releases
Robert Deeble is an American singer-songwriter from Long Beach, California, who later settled in Seattle. His early work was built around art-folk: heavily reverbed acoustic guitar, cello and stand-up bass created a melancholy, jazz-tinged setting for songs about failed relationships, political concerns and dependence upon God. The 1997 debut Days Like These established that sound with polished production and a duet with Victoria Williams. Earthside Down added drum loops and fuller band textures while retaining delicate picking, low, breathy vocals and lyrics joining faith to love and loss. By Thirteen Stories, Deeble had moved toward lighter arrangements and literary subjects, including Emily Dickinson. The songs remained quiet and reflective, but the record's folk writing carried more humor and a clearer interest in narrative.
After touring through the United States and New Zealand, Deeble moved further into work outside music and earned a master's degree in psychology. He became a practicing psychotherapist while continuing to write and record, rather than treating Thirteen Stories as a final statement. His later work included This Bar Has No One Left in 2005 and Heart Like Feathers in 2012. A six-year gap followed before Beloved appeared in 2018, drawing on the experience of fostering and eventually adopting a daughter. Deeble remained based in Seattle, where he continued publishing music alongside his psychotherapy practice.
3 releases reviewed
Days Like These
Thirteen Stories