Set to guitar, violin, piano, bass, and tambourine, "For My Sake" is a romantic duet with playful back-and-forth vocals, intricate harmonies, and intriguing chord progressions.

- Recorded, mixed, and mastered by grammy-winning Erik Wofford
- Self-produced by Matt Salois of Deer Fellow

Lyrics:
"I saw you cross the dance floor
My heart beat through my chest
I wish I had walked over to compliment your dress
I can’t handle this yearning, this I must confess
You’re running through my mind always
For my sake take a rest

Baby I’m hoping for your touch
Maybe I’m dreaming far too much
I've got this feeling I can’t define
I've got this image in my mind
Of running my fingers down your spine

I’d give you all my hours, I’d give you all my days
What is mine is ours, just look my way
I’m sitting, waiting, wishing you would come around
You’re running through my mind always
For my sake please slow down

Baby I’m hoping for your touch
Maybe I’m dreaming far too much
I've got this feeling I can’t define
I've got this image in my mind
Of running my fingers down your spine

Baby I’m hoping
Maybe I’m dreaming
I've got this feeling again"

For My Sake

Our rendition of "Someone to Watch Over Me"
Self-produced & performed by Deer Fellow
Recorded, mixed, & mastered by Erik Wofford
Written & composed by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

Someone To Watch Over Me

Inspired by the video game of the same name, ‘Unravel’ is a song about confronting anxiety and working together to tackle mental obstacles. Driven by a mix of folk and bedroom pop stylings, the lyrics dive into the fear of overwhelm and the importance of vulnerability. Opening up to someone else might be the fix you need, not only to mend your own troubles but theirs as well. Set to layered guitars and bursts of violin, the track embodies the phrase "it's okay to not be okay," especially considering there are so many others in the same boat.

- Self-produced and performed by Deer Fellow
- Written by Matt Salois of Deer Fellow
- Recorded, mixed, and mastered by grammy-winning Erik Wofford

Lyrics:
"Every single day you feel your nerves a-creeping
They’re on the way, you’d rather be day dreaming
Wouldn’t that be nice but when you’re self-aware you can’t, you’re antsy
Every single night, looking for a reason
Not to run and hide, wish it all was pretend
Wouldn’t that be grand but when you’re self aware it can’t be
You're antsy, you can’t see a way out
You’re unraveling, but it's alright
Grab your thread as you unwind
Take the end and tie it to mine
We'll make something good of a bad time
You can feel the urge to dive into the deep end
But that's absurd when you're no good at swimming
Wouldn’t it be great to stay afloat and never sink, but you're flailing
Take another breath so you can remember
Don't give in yet, don't you dare surrender
More can be done despite the fact you're antsy
You can breathe slowly throughout
You’re unraveling, but it's alright
Grab your thread as you unwind
Take the end and tie it to mine
We'll make something good of a bad time
Unwinding ain't all that bad
We're finding ways to adapt
And finally bridging the gap"

Unravel

Interlaced with indie R&B and bedroom pop vibes, "Can't Forget" depicts the journey of loss. When someone undergoes a traumatic experience it becomes the main topic of conversation. Initially, everyone has an opinion about it, people are constantly checking in on you, and it’s all that’s on everyone’s mind. But like everything, it fades with time for those on the outskirts, those who aren’t directly affected by it in their daily lives. For the person it happened to, however, the aftermath of the trauma lasts indefinitely. Even after months or years have passed, something can randomly trigger you and make you feel as though you’ve taken a sucker punch to the gut. This song is about an extremely personal familial loss, but anyone who has experienced heartache will be able to relate with the sentiment “I know you may have, but I can’t forget.”

Written by Alyssa Kelly
Performed / Self-Produced by Deer Fellow 
Recorded / Mixed / Mastered by Erik Wofford
Alyssa Kelly - vocals, piano
Matt Salois - backing vocals, electric guitar, synth, bass, drums

Lyrics:
"Oh some days I’m just fine, wake to watch the sunrise
Other days I can’t fight, battles lost before my eyes
Play it back and rewind, the punishment don’t fit the crime
Vision’s clear in hindsight, what we had was bound to die
I know we’ve talked it all to death but I still can’t catch my breath
It’s been a year but the wounds are still fresh
No one asks me how I’m doing, I’m still digging through the ruins
Of the life we had before you two met
I know you may have but I can’t forget, no I can’t forget
Can’t stand the sight of your face, reminds me why we needed space
I hope you think of me every time you two embrace
I know we’ve talked it all to death but I still can’t catch my breath
It’s been a year but the wounds are still fresh
No one asks me how I’m doing, I’m still digging through the ruins
Of the life we had before you two met
I know you may have but I can’t forget, no I can’t forget
In the dark of the night it all comes rushing back
From the depths of my mind, threatening to attack
You’re still hiding behind the same tired lies
It’s just a fantasy, just a fucking fantasy, but it was real to me
Do you remember me? Do you remember me?
I know we’ve talked it all to death but I still can’t catch my breath
I know you may have but I can’t forget, no I can’t forget"

Can't Forget

Drawing from the regrets of days past, "The Culprit" is a guilt-trip song brought to life by bouncy guitar rhythms and indie folk charm.

Self-produced and performed by Deer Fellow. Written by Matt Salois of Deer Fellow. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Erik Wofford.

Matt Salois - vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums, tambourine, claps
Alyssa Kelly - backing vocals, violin, piano, claps

Lyrics:
"Hurt heart, should have stopped this at the start
Lost love, should have nipped it in the bud
Dead dream, now it’s gone and obsolete
And I know anywhere I go, I go alone
How’d I get here? I hate to admit
All the crippling regret
All the childlike foolishness
And I am the culprit, I am, I am
I am the culprit, I am, I am
Hurt heart, trampled by a freight train car
Lost love, ripped off like a ticket stub
Dead dream, now it’s wrapped in TNT
And I know anywhere I go it’s gonna blow
How’d I get here? I hate to admit
All the cause and effect
All the misread intentions
And I am the culprit, I am, I am
I am the culprit, I am, I am
The culprit, the culprit"

The Culprit

Accentuated with rich strings and dynamic guitar, "Filtered" is a chamber pop lament on the toxicity of social media. 

Written by Alyssa Kelly, performed / self-produced by Deer Fellow, and recorded / mixed / mastered by Erik Wofford.
Alyssa Kelly - vocals, violin, piano
Matt Salois - backing vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums

Lyrics: 
"Around the sun, another year has come and gone
You and I are stuck here standing still again, discontent
We watch our lives through filtered eyes
Honey, at what price?
You can move away, save up for a grand escape
You'll still be you with all your little problems till you solve them
We're so devoted to constant motion, afraid to slow it down
Despite the pretty pictures we're all painting
We're waiting with bated breath to see what's next
The grass seems greener till you've seen it from the other side"

Filtered

Laced with dreamy textures reminiscent of artists like Ritt Momney and Still Woozy, "Insult to Injury" is an indie-pop plea to the relentless jerks in life. Those who always bring you down. Those who belittle you and treat you as sub-human. The song speaks to the need for empathy amongst friends and enemies alike.

Written by Matt Salois of Deer Fellow, this final track completes the duo's sophomore EP Unraveling. Self-produced and performed by Deer Fellow. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Erik Wofford of Cacophony Recorders.

Matt Salois - vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums
Alyssa Kelly - backing vocals, synth, violin

Lyrics:
"How am I supposed to get anywhere when nobody cares?
How can I ever be well-prepared when nothing is fair?
You kick me when I'm already down
Never help me up off the ground
And later say you were just clowning around
Don't add insult to injury
Please don't belittle me
With insult to injury
Please show some sympathy
Insult to injury, it's killing me
Don't you already know you should be less critical?
Don't be unreasonable
It really isn't that difficult
But you don't even try to sympathize
With anyone you criticize
Don't add insult to injury
Please don't belittle me
With insult to injury
Please show some sympathy
Insult to injury, it's killing me
Why are you always on the attack?
Why do you get off on acting like that?
I need for someone to build me back up
A few words of kindness should be enough
Don't add insult to injury (8x)
Don't, don't, don't, don't
Don't add insult to injury
It's killing me"

Insult to Injury

A fresh take on the 90's hit “Closing Time” by Semisonic, reinvented with moody indie folk vibes and bedroom pop stylings.

Matt Salois - vocals, guitar, bass, drums, synth
Alyssa Kelly - backing vocals, violin, piano
Self-produced & performed by Deer Fellow
Recorded at 512 Studios
Mixed & mastered by Cacophony Recorders
Cover art photo by Jerod Johnson

Closing Time

Written by Alyssa Kelly (of Deer Fellow)
Produced by Matt Salois (of Deer Fellow)
Mixed & mastered by Erik Wofford (of Cacophony Recorders)

Lyrics:
Whispers, shivers
Flee my heart when I see you
Not quite spoken
But I think you feel it too
Fragment feelings
I can’t seem to share with you
Break the silence
Honey, I’m begging you

‘Till then
I’ll love you
In this sad but happy state
Beautiful gray
You linger bittersweet taste
Intoxicating
I’m waiting for you

Black and white
Ruled my life ‘till I found you
Now I’m living
In this limbo built for two
Late nights talking
Tightrope walking rendezvous
For now I’ll be
Happy just to be close to you

I’ll love you
In this sad but happy state
Beautiful gray
You linger bittersweet taste
Intoxicating
I’m waiting for you

I’ll love you
In this sad but happy state
Beautiful gray
You linger bittersweet taste
Intoxicating
I’m waiting for you

Beautiful Gray

Infused with lively melodies and candid confessions, "Shock Value" is about the crazy things we do and say to get a reaction out of others.

Lyrics:
Why do I do this?
Saying all these things that don’t make sense
Maybe I should pump the brakes a bit
Instead of spewing all this gibberish
It's hard not to
Everything I do is for shock value
Just to get a rise out of you
Acting out of spite
Stir the pot to fit my appetite
But it seems I’m never satisfied
I get my fill then I take another bite
It's hard not to
Everything I do is for shock value
Just to get a rise out of you
I can’t resist it
Can’t help but give in
To see the face you make
Everything I do is for shock value
To get a rise out of you

Credits:
Written & self-produced by Matt Salois
Matt Salois - vocals, guitar, bass, drums
Alyssa Kelly - backing vocals, violin, keys
Mixed & mastered by Erik Wofford of Cacophony Recorders

Shock Value

Our rendition of the 2011 hit song “Sail” by Awolnation. This version is reimagined with a moody mix of bedroom pop and neo soul vibes.

Alyssa Kelly - vocals, violin, piano
Matt Salois - backing vocals, electric guitar, bass, drums, synth
Self-produced and performed by Deer Fellow
Mixed and mastered by Erik Wofford of Cacophony Recorders

Sail

Set to guitar, violin, and piano, this song is about relentless infatuation.

Lyrics:
"I can’t sleep right when you haunt me each night
Though I fight it I can’t shake the sight
Other thoughts should be in my head
But I just think of you instead

I try to wrestle my mind off you
But you find a way back inside, don’t you?

Don’t dissect my pride
Don’t you scrutinize me
I have set my sights on you only

I see your face all through the day
There’s no escaping the trance you have placed on me
Got a heart that should be on the mend
But it just breaks for you instead

I try to wrestle my mind off you
But you find a way back inside, don’t you?
I strive to show you that I want you
But you deny me every time I do

Don’t dissect my pride
Don’t you scrutinize me
I have set my sights on you only
I’m slightly terrified
Don’t upset my psyche
I could win the prize if I’m lucky

I got you right where I want you tonight
What if I win you over this time? You’ll be mine

I try to wrestle my mind off you
But you find a way back inside, don’t you?"

Words Unsaid

Each Night

Austin-based duo Deer Fellow serves up cozy indie folk-pop with “comforting yet bold musicality.” Matt Salois (vocals, electric guitar, looping, percussion) and Alyssa Kelly (vocals, violin, keys) have built a cross-genre sound that “stirs hearts with each carefully crafted note.”

“It’s hard to tell where the duo behind Deer Fellow ends and the other begins. Matt and Alyssa’s voices, like instruments, interchange, blend, rise and fall in ways that few duos can achieve. If listeners are lucky enough to catch a live show, they’d be forgiven for mistaking the pair for a full band upon first note. Matt’s guitar looping techniques, skillful chord progressions, and percussive elements, along with Alyssa’s synth backgrounds and bell-clear violin, produce a fulsome sound that is far from the typical duo most listeners have come to expect.” - EASTside Magazine

Often compared to the likes of Andrew Bird and Arlo Parks, the two's vocal harmonies and unique guitar-violin blends have landed them features in Earmilk, EASTside Magazine, and the Austin American-Statesman to name a few. As official SXSW performers and recent recipients of a Sonic Guild grant, Deer Fellow continues to grow their indie presence with support from House of Sync and Community Music. Matt and Alyssa — new Recording Academy Members — will release their first full-length album, Hues, in early 2026.

Deer Fellow

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