10 Questions with ... Dan Croll

1. Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? How did your very artistic parents influence you and your music passion?

Growing up I wanted to be a professional rugby player, but that ended quite abruptly at 17 with a badly broken leg that left me out of the game for a long time and couldn't really get back to form.

My early influences were decided by what my mum was listening to; thankfully she had a great taste in music, a lot of great songwriters like Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Barry Gibb, Brian Wilson and others.

2. If you weren't a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing

It's music or nothing.

3. How did where you grew up influence you?

Well, I was actually born and schooled in Stoke-on-Trent, and musically there wasn't a lot happening there, but my sister loved her music and was in to the British indie scene. I don't think they really stuck with me that much though.

Musically it all exploded for me when I moved to Liverpool; the genres that surrounded me were all so new to me and incredibly exciting. They shaped my music a massive amount.

4. So let's talk about your experience with Paul McCartney. How did you get to be selected to have a one-on-one session with him? What was it like for you?

I was selected by my lecturers; I'm not totally sure why but obviously I'm incredibly grateful. I'd hardly slept the night before as I was traveling back through the night from a gig, so I was quite delirious when it all happened. On one hand, it meant I was very calm and not freaking out at being in a room with Paul McCartney, but on the other, yeah, it was hard to believe it was happening. He was just a super nice, chilled-out dude, and we just jammed and enjoyed that simple aspect of music ... no massive pearls of wisdom, just to enjoy it all.

5. You just released Emerging Adulthood. How does it compare to other releases that you've made?

The main difference is that the first album was a collection of songs that I'd been writing for years, but this new collection is all very 'fresh' and written in six months, so it all feels more relevant and up front to me.

6. How do you think you have grown as an artist since your 2014 album, Sweet Disarray? What has changed about your process and what has remained the same?

I've gotten older, matured a bit more, been a bit battered and bruised by the music industry but came out alive. The process is a little different, but mainly just more refined.

7. Tell us about your "Dial Dan" campaign. Where did the idea for this hotline come from?

It came from spending too much time on social media trying to connect with fans, only to look back feeling like it was time wasted. I felt no more connected to them than when I started.

That's when I thought we could buy a burner, give out the number, and allow fans to call, there's almost a lost art to the phone call. It's quite a high-pressure thing so you really get to know instantly the people you're talking to, and I feel you can open up more over a phone conversation.

8. Where are you looking forward to playing at on your upcoming U.S. tour?

Really excited about being back in New York, especially as I've never played the Warsaw before. It'll be my biggest New York show so far!

9. Your songs have been appeared in so many places. Do you still get excited when you hear one? What's been the most memorable or special place that you heard your music?

I heard my track in the hotel we were staying at a few weeks ago, and it was a song that wasn't one of the main album tracks, so it was extra special to hear it, and remember that I'd actually written it!

10. What do you hope is the message of your music?

I just hope that listeners relate to some of the subjects I write about, especially stuff that's more directed towards mental health; I hope they can realize they're not alone and that it's all going to be fine at the end of the day.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started on this music path?

Gig, gig, and then gig some more: It can be pretty terrifying starting out and gigging, but it's just so important. That's how you build a real loyal fanbase and get heard.

Interview by Leah Brungardt