AppConfector presents: singer Dean Collins and his app

“Whether it’s classical, jazz, rock, pop, blues, soul or heavy metal – it’s always about feelings”

An interview with Dean Collins and all about him, his music and his app!

Dean Collins. Mister 101 per cent: a charming self-taught all-rounder with a big heart. If you read his name and hear his music, you can hardly believe that Dean Collins was born in Germany. But the 40-year-old singer, guitarist and songwriter really does come from Bremerhaven rather than the USA. Which makes him even more likeable, we think!

When did you start singing?

Even at the age of five I was running around the flat with a salt shaker, singing along to the hits on the radio. Later I built myself a drum kit out of “Dash” washing powder tubs. My father bought a home organ, which I used more often than he did, and on it, between the ages of 10 and 14, I taught myself the most important basics of harmony. In my first rock band, at 15, I found playing the guitar more effective and taught myself to play after several guitar teachers had despaired of me. To this day I see myself more as a guitarist and songwriter. But singing is somehow part of bringing my songs to life – so I have always sung – not well – but loudly!

How did your musical style develop?

I have always loved making music. My parents supported that too, although nobody in my family plays an instrument or sings. I am very grateful to my parents for always letting me do things my way. They granted almost every wish I had for an instrument, until I was able to pay for them myself. I don’t see my music as “pure” country music either. It is more a mix of everything I listen to myself – and that ranges from Springsteen and Eminem to Abba, Eric Clapton and above all the Eagles. For me there is no such thing as a bad genre. Whether it’s classical, jazz, rock, pop, blues, soul or heavy metal – it’s always about feelings, and if they come across well, then to me it is good music.

“Among colleagues I’m called Mr 101 %, and I think that’s still at least 101% too little.” ~Dean Collins

Who are your fans?

I wouldn’t limit my fans to one country or one target group. But I think most of them are people aged 30+. Lovers of handmade music and spontaneous live shows, who like rough edges just as much as a polished production. People who are open to different styles and for whom all the trimmings and a bombastic show matter less than a good song.

What else should our readers know about you?

Through working with lots of different artists, I am open to every genre. So I consider myself very tolerant – but others had better be the judge of that. I am very impatient, and I’m sure that gets on many people’s nerves just as much as my urge for perfection. Among colleagues I’m called Mr 101 %, and I think that’s still at least 101 % too little.

Dean Collins says he doesn’t sing well, but loudly. Here, however, he proves that he can sing quietly too – and that, quite the opposite, he actually sounds very good. What do you think? Have a listen:

Dean Collins – “she was never far away” (DC Unlocked 2013, TiF Theatre) on YouTube

The Dean Collins app has been available to fans since May. Since then it has been downloaded more than 100 times and is used 20 times a day on average.

The Dean Collins app. All the information at a glance.

“And that although we have hardly promoted the app so far. We find that amazing and can’t wait to see what the figures look like once we advertise it widely,”

says Thomas Rühl, Dean Collins’s marketing manager. And he also told us straight away how the app is going down with the fans:

What do you use the app for?

Both as an app for our fans and as the mobile version of our website www.deancollins.us, because these days more than 42 % of all users are on mobile devices. That goes for our fans too. In future we would like to add even more interactive features. We have plenty of ideas buzzing around our heads, and it would be great to put them into practice with AppConfector.

Which feature matters most to you?

Actually, all the modules play an important part. It is only all of them together, with their individual features, that make the app interesting enough for the “user” to look in at least once a day for news. Because that is what it is all about: being in constant dialogue with the fans.

“Funny things happen to us all the time on tour and in the studio. We are working on sharing lots of funny videos from our everyday life as musicians with the fans through our app.” ~Dean Collins

Where do you see the benefit, Mr Rühl?

Whether it is videos, pictures, the shop or other modules, with this app we reach our fans exactly where it matters. Here our fans can get news and tour dates instantly, wherever they are. Anyone who doesn’t know Dean Collins yet will get to know a lot about him through the app. Fans can order merchandise and CDs, or call up the lyrics at concerts to sing along. Our “History” and “Famous Last Words”, which are popular with the fans, simply had to be in the app too. And of course we mustn’t forget our Facebook page, which can be visited through the app without being logged in to or registered with Facebook.

“Whether it is videos, pictures, the shop or other modules, with this app we reach our fans exactly where it matters.” ~Thomas Rühl, Dean Collins’s marketing manager.

How happy are you with the app and its features?

Great app, great support = A+, and we hope that more good features can be added in future too. We have plenty of ideas.

Do you promote your app to your fans?

Of course. The app is made for fans, and they have to hear about it before they can use it at all. So we promote it on our website (including an automatic redirect when a mobile device is detected), on Facebook, at concerts, in email signatures and, from our next print advertising onwards, with a QR code.

You can find more about Dean Collins and his band here:

Website: http://www.deancollins.us

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/deancollinsfanpage

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DEANCOLLINS2009

Online shop: www.shop.dean-collins.de

You can download the app here:

http://dean-collins.zur-app.de/

From DEAN COLLINS & BAND

AppConfector gets an

A+

Kind regards

Dean Collins

🙂

Thank you very much, Mr Collins!

We believe that a business’s mobile success, whatever kind of business it is, is the nicest compliment and our strongest motivation to keep improving and to keep developing in step with the times. You can find another detailed testimonial from one of our business owners here: GoWildWest

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