About DecoWaves

Musician, Effectologist, Technologist, & Dad

Having been both curious and inspired from an early age, Don Slesnick III has indulged in the creative pursuits of music for more than thirty years. The journey started as it does for many, with classical piano lessons at a young age, followed by a teenage interest in guitar; this, around the same time his ears were awakened by the soaring leads of David Gilmour and the mesmerizing delay-laden riffs of the Edge. Although Don joined the high school drumline and learned to play percussion in the concert band, a future Neil Peart he was not meant to be.

During his time at the University of Florida, Don honed his guitar skills with private  lessons and, credits his instructor, Jeff Ladenheim,  with introducing him to a diverse selection of artist and albums, all of which expanded his musical palate. Don was invited to join the rock-reggae band Putney Swope as the lead guitarist, performing at local venues and events around Gainesville. On returning to his hometown of Miami, Don’s focus shifted a bit away from performance and more towards exploration of effects and creative composition.

Away from music (his “day job”),  Don stayed true to another lifelong passion – Technology – founding DecoNetworks LLC, a boutique IT Consulting firm focused delivering technology solutions to small businesses and nonprofits. Quite often, the two worlds of music and technology would intermingle in various projects along the way.

With life starting to settle into a comfortable rhythm, along with a growing family, Don’s sister introduced him to her good friend, Von Henry. The two shared a love of music and performance, sparking an instant friendship and, within months the dynamic duo Funk Pedal was born. Small venues, art festivals, corporate events, and community fundraisers all welcomed their repertoire of originals and covers, featuring a healthy selection of classic rock, alt rock/contemporary, and plenty of reggae. Unable to perform for much of last year due to the pandemic, Funk Pedal enjoyed the unique opportunity to pre-record a virtual performance in support of an online celebration of diversity.

As to other creative pursuits and compositions, Don draws inspiration from a diverse variety of iconic musicians, finding comfort in writing instrumentals that feature slow and melodic leads over warm/rich washes of delays, reverbs, and modulation — a style that closely aligns to the Shoegazing genre, invoking images of a lazy daydream. Not limiting himself to such stylized works, Don also explores the mix of alt-rock vibes with the rhythmic stylings of electronic music, not unlike those showcased at Miami’s Ultra Music Festival.

Don’s recent musical projects, some of which are featured on this website, involve his passion for forging strong ties with key players in the music industry including various gear manufacturers and product designers, artists, social media personalities, retail establishments, and recording specialists. Sharing insight and knowledge through these relationships has helped Don facilitate and support the perspectives shared throughout the DecoWaves blog.

Finally, Don is particularly committed to community engagement and, service thereto is a foundational part of his life. Having previously served as the Executive Director for the South Florida Digital Alliance — a nonprofit focused on “Bridging the Digital Divide – he recently completed a one-year engagement as the CEO of the Junior Orange Bowl, an organization that offers the community of South Florida and the world’s youth sporting and artistic competitions and cultural events. In addition, he is currently an active member of the Orange Bowl Committee, an engaged leader within the St. Philip’s Episcopal parish, and a past member of various community boards for the City of Coral Gables, Florida.

For more information and to connect on LinkedIn, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/slesnick3/