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10 Questions with ... Danyew
July 27, 2009
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NAME:DanyewTITLE:Musician
Label:
Sparrow RecordsDiscography:
Danyew (2009)1) Can you give us a brief recap of your musical journey and how you found yourself with Sparrow?
Well, my passions have always been music and art. Out of high school, I started at a local community college for graphic design. About 2 and a half years into school (the semester before I was going to transfer to Long Beach State), I felt this crazy tearing for me to stop everything I was doing and write music full time. I have been writing songs since about seventh grade, but never like a full time job. So I did. I quit school and wrote songs everyday for about a solid year or so. Long story short, producer Pete Kipley heard some of my music and contacted me. He said, "Fly out to Nashville and we'll start making a record." So I said, OK. I got five credit cards (bad decision) and then flew out to Nashville. We were about three songs into making a record when Sparrow heard it. I started having meetings and doing showcases for them. It felt very natural and they offered a record deal. That's how I found myself with Sparrow.
2) Tell us what we can hear on this first record: sounds, words, message.
You can hear a shadow of what's to come. [smile] The music is very layered and atmospheric. Layers in songs have always inspired me. Some sounds are upfront, as others are neatly tucked away to be discovered by the thorough explorer. I like it like that. The sound of the EP is a nice balance of organic and electronic sounds/instruments. The words in the EP range from life, love, and God, to doubt and questions. What I hope to always capture in my records is where I'm at in that season of my life and hope that people are inspired to love and to be creative.
3) What is your favorite song on the EP?
My favorite song would have to be "Close Your Eyes."
4) And what's the story behind that song?
I wrote "Close Your Eyes" in a season where I started questioning the things I grew up to believe in. This song talks about how I believe we are all connected to something bigger than ourselves (a Creator) and there is a longing in everybody's hearts to live for something more than this life.
5) Which do you enjoy more: the process (writing, recording) or the performance?
I feel they are all part of the "process of music." Well, at least for me, this is how it is. After I wrote all the songs for the record, I couldn't wait to record them and make them sound awesome. Then, after I obsessed over the recording of the songs, I can't wait to play them. It is a revolving wheel. Each part has its own dynamic and pros and cons. Right now the performance is next on the list for me. The performance is becoming a more electronic setup (with the use of my computer on stage with me and synths and fun audio processors) and is pretty new to me still. So right now the performance side seems like the Christmas present that you wanted all year and you didn't see it under the Christmas tree. Now it is the moment in time that your parents are pulling out the secret present from the closet and they place it in your hands. I'm just starting to unwrap it. It is pretty exciting!
6) What does the rest of 2009 hold for you, especially any special fall plans?
In the fall (Oct-Nov) I'm going on tour with The David Crowder Band and Seabird. I'm really excited about it. It is my first full-fledged tour and I'm very happy for the opportunity. The summer and everything is really just leading up to that. The goal is to have my live show down by the time the Crowder tour rolls around.
7) As you were in the studio working on this EP, did you have any "ah-ha" moments when you thought, "Now we have something - and this is good!"?
I don't really recall any. It is really hard for me to hear my own music for what it is. If it's amazing or just alright, I just can't see. I'm constantly showing my ides to friends and family to get their opinions and suggestions. It's hard because it is such a personal thing to me. It is more than just a song. It is a part of me. I'm learning how to listen to my songs objectively (it's proving quite hard). Not to say that I don't get excited over ideas, I just don't feel like it ever really hit me like "Oh! We got something good!" I just wanted to make a really cool record and the outcome is something I am very proud of. I feel it is a good start.
8) Do you have a mentor in songwriting?
Not really but I'm constantly asking other artists how they write music. I fell it is so random. For some people it is this very mechanical thing where they can just sit down and pop 'em out. For me it is hard to write when I'm not inspired but then when I am, it's still like combing a desert for hidden treasure. Most the time you get a bunch of junk but sometimes you find the goods.
9) If you could have any job outside the music business, what would you like to try your hand at?
I would love to be a photographer.
10) Do you have time to listen to much music? What other artists are you listening to right now?
I listen to a lot of music in my car. It gets my mind off the fact that I don't have AC. [smile] At the moment I'm listening to Ratatat, Jon Hopkins, Jon Brion and Lights. I'm always listening to Radiohead, Coldplay, Bjork and Imogen Heap. They are deep wells to drink from.
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