- Hi Dan, can you tell me a little about yourself before you became a country musician? I grew up in Oaks, Pennsylvania. As a kid, I played sports and always enjoyed fishing, camping, and spending time outside. As far as music goes, I started taking drum lessons when I was 6 and by fifth grade, I was playing drums and singing in a classic rock cover band with my brother and two neighborhood buddies (brothers Andy and Gary who now live in Nashville). We played songs by bands like the Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, and CCR. When my brother went to Vanderbilt for school, I started making trips to Nashville. Around that time, I tore my ACL playing football and spent my newfound free time learning to play guitar. I attended Tulane University in New Orleans. I spent played rugby and performed with a rock band at fraternity parties and college bars. I also spent my summers living and performing original songs with my brother in Nashville. After college, I became a permanent Nashville and attended Vanderbilt Law School. Living here has helped me develop my singing and songwriting chops because I am constantly inspired by the talent in this town.
- What was the first country album you ever bought? Sinners Like Me by Eric Church. Still love that album, especially the songwriting.
- What is the background story behind your latest single “Louisiana Looking Back?” Louisiana Looking Back is about my time as a college student in New Orleans. The song is a nostalgic reflection on a relationship I had back then. I had fun weaving Louisiana imagery throughout the lyrics with lines about fishing in Delacroix, watching LSU football in the rain, and two-stepping at the Bourbon Cowboy, a country bar on Bourbon Street. Like a lot of my songs, Louisiana Looking Back is very autobiographical. I find that songs written from experience connect with people the most. The audience can always tell when you aren’t being genuine.
- Is there anything else new coming up with your music in 2019? Ihave a new song called Goodbye Rodeo that I’ll release as a single, but it probably won’t be until early 2020. I also play songwriters rounds in Nashville from time to time and plan on continuing that. Even though I wrote Louisiana Looking Back and the majority of my EP by myself, I plan to schedule some more co-writes with other songwriters in town.
- What are some of your favorite venues or events to play at? I’ve performed at Winners Bar, Belcourt Taps, Alley Taps, the Local, the Dogwood, and a number of other venues in Nashville. One of my favorite spots, Bobby’s Idle Hour on music row, unfortunately closed down. That place was so iconic. I also got to play at the legendary Tipitina’s in New Orleans with my college band. That was a really cool experience.
- What is your recording process like when making new music? For me, the recording process always revolves around the song. We think about what the song needs and what will enhance, rather than distract from, the lyrics and melody. In particular, we think about the instruments we want to include, whether it’s fiddle, pedal steel, banjo, a female harmony part, etc. By the time I get into the studio, I usually have an idea of what I want the finished product to sound like, but I still rely a great deal on input from the producers, sound engineer, and session musicians. I recorded my EP at a studio in Nashville called the Amber Sound. My old band mate, Andy, introduced me to the owner of the studio and also hooked me up with some great studio musicians. Those guys really captured the sound I was looking for. Louisiana Looking Back and my upcoming single Goodbye Rodeo were recorded with my other former band mate, Gary. He and his brother Andy co-produced the project. It’s easy to be creative when you’re working with friends you know and trust. I’ve been fortunate enough to record with some great friends who happen to be great musicians as well.
- How would you describe your music in 3 to 5 words? Boot-stomping country rock
- What is one of your favorite quotes? Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t. Mark Twain
dixiedeeblog.com 