ST. GEORGE — After skyrocketing to social media stardom as a one-man band, this local singer/songwriter hit a speed bump that halted his musical journey. But now, he’s back in the spotlight with a debut song, ready to reclaim his place in the music scene.

“Social media is a wonderful thing,” artist Noah Deist said. “But it can also be very damaging to mental health. I kind of lost the joy of making music because I felt like I was chasing likes and views. Chasing something that may be unachievable drained the creativity out of making music.”

Deist said nothing beats the experience of having a video go viral. But it also creates an unrealistic chase for the same “mountaintop experience” every time. Learning to understand that and relearning to love music is something he’s actively working on.

On Feb. 16, Deist released a new song for the first time in almost two years. The comeback song titled “Simple Blessings” is a reminder to be grateful for the small things that make relationships so sweet and was written about his wife of two years.

“Just recognizing that some of the best parts of our life together aren’t our big wedding or big vacations,” he said. “Sometimes, we overlook just being next to the person we love. Or when a song comes on Alexa when you’re cooking dinner and dancing around the kitchen. It’s a reminder to myself and anyone listening to be thankful for those small blessings in life.”

The music video for the single was recorded at Pioneer Park and Dixie Rock – one of the first places he and his wife visited before they moved to St. George three months ago. His background in photography and videography allowed him to shoot the entire music video himself using a drone and various tripods.

Deist’s viral success with TikTok came from producing music with Live Looping – the act of recording and playing back a piece of music in real-time. He plays one instrument, then another and another all while using a loop pedal to record. The recording creates the sound of a full band, and he tops it off by playing the guitar and singing his own original songs.

He’s had the opportunity to work with big names like Netflix, where he created a live looping cover of a song from the TV series The Witcher. He’s also collaborated with guitar and loop pedal brands to demo their products. As far as the various instruments involved, Deist is a guitarist and a drummer who can also play the piano and folk instruments such as the banjo and mandolin.

While most of his music is considered pop, he plans to experiment more across genres like mixing pop and country. He’s collaborated with an EDM producer in the past and loves that the modern music industry allows for more flexibility in music types without being tied to one type.

Deist’s music background started at a young age. Raised by his drummer father, he learned the guitar around the age of 7. After being pushed into joining the worship band at church, he was taught the guitar and learned to sing. That led to a love of songwriting.

“It’s sometimes a lot easier to sit down and write a song about things than it is to talk about it with somebody,” he said. “Oftentimes, I’ll even say things in songs that I don’t have the confidence to say in person.” 

While obtaining a degree in digital media production from a small university in Iowa, he began playing in a variety of bands. That led him to perform in live shows for the first time and further ignited his love for music. Throughout the years, he’s connected with recording studio owners and producers, allowing him to record and release his own music since 2018.

“Music to me has an outlet,” Deist said. “It’s also just a way to have fun and express myself through different instruments. Being able to do what I love for a living and make music that people listen to and that matters to them would be my biggest goal.”

For more information on Noah Deist, visit his website. Follow him on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Watch the music video for “Simple Blessings” here.

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