Rising trio DEK of Hearts is gaining traction in Music City. Comprised of Dylan John, Emily Clapp and Kollin Bailey, DEK of Hearts recently bested 19 other acts in front of a packed house at The Franklin Theatre, impressing a noteworthy panel of music industry judges to win the evening’s top prize. The showcase event, presented by Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Visit Franklin, was one of seven concerts held throughout the state as part of Tennessee Songwriters Week. Also returning to perform that night were winners from previous years Meagan Allen, Sarah Hardwig, Jacob Rice and Allen Morrell.
The annual Tennessee Songwriters Week celebrates the craft that put Tennessee on the map: songwriting, in all genres of music. Qualifying rounds were held at nearly 50 venues, museums and cafes statewide.
John, Clapp and Bailey met while attending Nashville’s Trevecca Nazarene University, each bringing similar backgrounds having been raised in church and around worship music. In college they performed in traveling worship bands. Following graduation they casually played music together for a few years, before officially forming DEK of Hearts.
They won the competition at The Franklin Theatre with a set that included their poignant, original song, “Dear Ole Whiskey.” “In country music you can write about a lot of cool, vulnerable things,” says Bailey. “You also hear a lot of songs in country music about alcohol and we sing those songs too. But we wanted to write a song with a different approach to alcohol. I think everybody has somebody they know that struggles with that, so we wanted to write a letter to whiskey, as if whiskey was a person.”
On March 30, DEK of Hearts and six other winners from events across the state performed a private concert at The Bluebird Cafe in front of esteemed music industry professionals. Songwriter J.T. Harding, who has penned hits for Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and more, hosted the finale. They were joined by Rodrick Duran (Memphis winner), Sarrenna Johnson (Knoxville winner), Claire Childress (Bristol winner), Kristina Stair and Jordan Foster (Gatlinburg winners), Caleb Lovely (Chattanooga winner) and Jon Wayne Hatfield (Portland winner). In addition to the opportunity to perform at the world-famous Bluebird Cafe, the prize package included a branded commemorative Taylor guitar, two-night hotel stay in Nashville, $100 gift card for travel and one-year membership to Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).
DEK of Hearts has a new single, “Taillights,” coming out in May, which they describe as the song of the summer. They say studio magic courtesy of producer Nick Schwarz brought the song to life. “As an acoustic trio, it’s hard to imagine ourselves with a band,” says Clapp. “So hearing this recording has really given us an idea of what we could sound like in the future traveling with a band.”
DEK of Hearts counts fellow trio Lady A as one of its biggest musical influences. Earlier this year the two groups met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. “They were so encouraging and met us exactly where we were,” adds Clapp. “They told us to keep going and push through the struggles and adversities that come with being a trio. It was so impactful and encouraging.”
Helmed by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the annual Tennessee Songwriters Week supports music venues, provides songwriters with live performance opportunities in all genres of music, drives visitation and inspires travelers to experience the state's musical stories, history, attractions and venues. Since its inception in 2019, more than 4,000 songwriters have shared their original songs on Tennessee stages. TNVacation.com/songwriters-week @dekofhearts
"As an acoustic trio, it’s hard to imagine ourselves with a band."