Peasant (artist)

Damien Nicholas DeRose (September 23, 1985 – November 18, 2015) known by the stage name Peasant, was an American songwriter, singer, and producer. Described by media as a more optimistic version of Elliott Smith, Peasant toured extensively in both Europe and the US, sharing the stage with acts such as Cursive, Dr. Dog, Horse Feathers, Dan Mangan, Delta Spirit, Rocky Votolato, Sharon Van Etten, Chris Pureka, Hop Along, Illinois, Albert Hammond Jr., Liz Green and many others.[2]

Peasant
Birth nameDamien Nicholas DeRose
Born(1985-09-23)September 23, 1985
Livingston, New Jersey
OriginDoylestown, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 18, 2015(2015-11-18) (aged 30)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GenresAlternative Country-Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Indie Rock[1]
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano, drums, percussion
Years active2003–2015
LabelsSchnitzel Records
Websiteiampeasant.bandcamp.com

Biography

Damien Nicholas DeRose grew up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, a small town where he began writing and recording in his bedroom in high school.[3] He first toured the greater part of the U.S. in 2005 as a solo artist. The following year, he self-released his first collection of recordings, Fear Not Distant Lover; and toured the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Upon returning home, Peasant toured the U.S. a second time, and ended in Canada for Montreal’s 2006 Popfest. Soon after the Popfest, he signed his first official record deal with Paper Garden Records and began recording On The Ground with Paul and Ryan Cobb (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club et al.) ‘The Cobbs’.

On the Ground was released in 2008 on Paper Garden Records.[4] The album was distributed through Conor Oberst’s label, Team Love. In 2009, Peasant recorded a Daytrotter Session and was featured on NPR's All Songs Considered blog "Second Stage" [magazine 1] In addition to being featured on Bones, two songs from On The Ground, "Fine is Fine" and "Those Days," were featured on ABC’s Kyle XY; and "Fine is Fine" was featured on Showtime’s United States of Tara.

In 2010, Peasant released his 3rd album, Shady Retreat, which was entirely recorded on his own and had songs from it featured on a number of network shows, including ABC's Private Practice.

In 2012, Peasant released Bound for Glory on Schnitzel Records. Shortly after, MTV featured Peasant’s ‘Amends’ on its Stop/Watch program, where DeRose debuted his band at MTV's Time Square Studio. The newly formed live band appeared on BBC Radio with Marc Riley while on tour in the UK and sold out shows across the continent from Zurich to London. Music from Bound for Glory has also been used by NBC’s Parenthood, CBS’s The Good Wife and, again, Private Practice.

Damien DeRose struggled with the disease of addiction for years before stumbling into a criminal act of burglary, for which he paid his time incarcerated, and made restitution, at a time addiction was not seen as the disease it is, and many followed this route before dying, or for the luckier ones, surviving this brain altering disease. Released in 2015, Damien DeRose remained in recovery until a fatal relapse on Nov 4, 2015. He is remembered not for his crime but for his true character and great loss to the music community. Damien DeRose remained humble and contrite with honest ambition to make amends and pay back to society in any way he could via music and awareness,and addiction support for all those affected by the disease. His family remains forever tormented by his suffering and his devastating loss too young. Damien's successful self made rise in music and beloved place in his family and community both override and spotlight the devastating costs of addiction that can lead to crime and acts of desperation. He will be remembered not for his mistakes, or his disease, but for his achievements and all the people who respect and love him still as the truly beautiful, inspiring person he was.

DeRose died in November 2015 after being in a coma for over two weeks.[5]

DeRose's family and friends posthumously released a collection of unreleased songs on an album titled Home, which was released in December 2016.A second release entitled "Ancient Buried Scenes" was released in 2019. Both were intended for release by Damien before his death. There remain hundreds of songs his mother intends to release in near future. Several associated artists collaborate to make this possible.

Discography

Albums
  • Fear Not Distant Lover (self-released, September 2005)
  • On the Ground (Paper Garden Records, March 2008)
  • Shady Retreat (Paper Garden Records, March 2010)
  • Bound for Glory (Schnitzel Records, April 2012)
  • Home (self-released, December 2016)

EPs
  • The Wind (That Works Records, June 2006)
  • Free Sides (self-released, June 2011)

References
  1. . Allmusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/peasant-mn0001431007. Retrieved November 27, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Kowal, Rachel (February 6, 2009). "Second Stage Peasant: 'Fine is Fine'". Npr. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  3. Bergen, Molly. "Interview: Peasant Chats About New Album Shady Retreat". Laist.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  4. Vaughan, Bryan. "Label News". News. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  5. John Vettese (19 November 2015). "R.I.P. Damien DeRose of Peasant, 1985-2015". The Key WXPN 88.5. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  1. Prewitt, Catherine. "Getting to Know Peasant". Paste. Paste Magazine. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
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