A Popup Interview with Daniel Blake

A Popup Interview with Daniel Blake
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CK:
What is your MySpace URL?

Daniel Blake:
www.myspace.com/danielblakemusic

CK:
Give us a run down of your audio equipment:

Daniel Blake:
Collings D2H-SB w/ Fishman thinline w/ a Fishman prefix external preamp, Boss BR900CD, Audio Technica condenser, Peavey Ecoustic 112, Boss Loop station, Boss tuner, Boss Chorus ensemble pedal, Boss Overdrive pedal, Boss Blues driver pedal, Boss Digital Delay pedal, Boss pedal board, etc...

CK:
Favorite clothing line?

Daniel Blake:
Guess.

CK:
How would you categorize your overall music style?

Daniel Blake:
Acoustic rock with some southern influence between the melody lines and vowel annunciation, however not "country" or "hick" sounding... Some of my greatest influences are also blues artists. I believe there's been a lot of great rock and a lot of great blues music written in the last 30 years, however, it does not seem like any of the producers nowadays have been able to blend the two together without having a greater element of one or the other. I'm right in the middle, but vocally, I sound much different than a lot of other artists who sing these types of music. Somewhere between Daughtry-Kelly Clarkson-Carrie Underwood-Edwin Mccain-Gavin Degraw-John Rzenick.

CK:
Most people will never know what it feels like to be on stage in front of a crowd, explain to them that feeling:

Daniel Blake:
Like the planets have aligned, and you are at the center. Total confidence at knowing that your fans are going to love every minute of what they hear from you. Honestly, a "Good feeling" knowing that these people want to hear you and you are going to satisfy them by giving them what they want. An overwhelming feeling of empowerment and for the time you are on stage, a feeling of completeness, and that you belong there. Something spiritual almost, but it is more earthly than anything...

CK:
What made you want to pursue songwriting?

Daniel Blake:
I was born a musician. It's what I was made to do. Never really had a single thing cause me to set my mind to it. I just knew from an early age that it's what I was made to do, and nothing else in life will bring me satisfaction if I'm not doing it. I guess you could say that the music was just "always in me"...

CK:
What do you think of the Gothic Culture?

Daniel Blake:
Not my cup of tea. Sort of a cultural sub-group that does not have a major impact on the mainstream of music. That's why Marylin Manson and Rob Zombie dont get played much on clear channel stations. Goth is so stereotypical and easily defined as a social "category". I think the first goth's may have been individualists, but ultimately, those who have followed in their footsteps seem to be more followers than anything. I like Elvis. He was the first true rockstar. Did his own thing. I like flash clothes and jewelry too. If I could afford it, I'd be dressing pretty gaudy like he did.

CK:
What genre(s) would you say your music is under?

Daniel Blake:
Rock/Blues/Pop or as they list it at most music stores: "Rock/Pop"

CK:
Let us say that you have been just signed by a major label and they say time to move 2500 miles. Now what, would you be able to move?

Daniel Blake:
Hell yeah. I would love to see the world. As long as I'm making the big $$$$ I'm worth.

CK:
What is your favorite song on your current album?

Daniel Blake:
The better part... Just a rough-cut demo at this point, but that'll change soon.

CK:
What is your favorite local venue?

Daniel Blake:
The varsity theatre...

CK:
Are there any established artists with whom you would like to collaborate?

Daniel Blake:
Jake Smith...

CK:
Do you do any recording on your own?

Daniel Blake:
I do when I have the time. Most of my demos are just a three-track setup. Vocals, Acoustic, and either another acoustic track to add texture, or an electric track.

CK:
Can you name a few of you favorite places on the web for band promotions?

Daniel Blake:
Myspace is probably the best. I have not considered a lot of others and have really just now started seeing what's out there, but I've been skeptical that a lot of the promotion sites are just out there to sell stuff to "Wannabe" artists who will never really make it. Face it, either you got the goods and you'll get signed, or you'll take the "wannabe" approach like everyone else and buy a bunch of worthless crap that tells you how to "Get signed" and you'll end up on some American Idol audition and embarrass yourself in front of half of the country...

CK:
What makes you and your band unique?

Daniel Blake:
My tough beats. My story. The fact that I've been nearly isolated and hidden from all musical outlets for my entire life. The fact that I have lived my whole life with this confidence and have held back because I've wanted to wait until it was the right time to pursue music. I didnt wan to be a teen-something pop mainstream wash and have a bunch of big city producers and record label exec's capitalizing on me early on only to leave me high and dry once the mainstream changes and I'm no longer the current fad. Young artists get used like that all the time. It absolutely diffuses any ounce of individuality that one may have previously had as an artist. Not to mention life experience that comes with age. I'm in my prime now because I waited...

CK:
Has the internet really been helpful to your promotion?

Daniel Blake:
Once again, I havent really tried to promote myself much, but all of my friends on myspace have loved my music and quite a few others who just found me there.

CK:
How long does it take for an average song to go from a musical idea to a recordable song?

Daniel Blake:
Average song? Probably a couple years. Not sure what the industry turn-around is, but for my music, I keep working on it until I get it perfect.

CK:
If you could put on a show anywhere were would it be?

Daniel Blake:
Woodstock...s

CK:
Do you have a street or e-team system in place? Want one for your website?

Daniel Blake:
No..

CK:
How many members in the band write music?

Daniel Blake:
Just me...

CK:
What are your plans for the future with your band?

Daniel Blake:
Just me... I'll get the label to provide studio musicians. It's about me and my music remember?

CK:
Tell us about your worst gig and why it was so bad.

Daniel Blake:
Drunken Karaoke. I was drunk. But, everybody still loved it and told me for weeks how great I was. I still get free drinks from the house every time I visit there. Lol...

CK:
Do you feel that "underground" is just a marketing term like anything else?

Daniel Blake:
Yep. But that's not necessarily a bad thing if you can make the right connections. You have to market yourself to get anywhere as an artist. I'm just getting started...

CK:
How big of an impact do you think the underground, indie scene has on the current pop culture?

Daniel Blake:
They push the cream to the top where they can get recognized by major label's. Ultimately, they get signed. But the bottom line is that they wrote and performed good music. If you cant do that, you could literally "stay underground" for a lifetime. I know a lot of wannabe's in Louisiana. Either you got it, or you dont. How fast and how well your music spreads depends on the quality of it. The rest is just finding the right label and producer...

CK:
How do you transport your equipment to the gig?

Daniel Blake:
In my Jeep Grand Cherokee..

CK:
What you feel is the most important thing about your music?

Daniel Blake:
It's mine. It's all mine.... Nobody else can say they wrote it. It's my own creation and a part of me. My own art.

CK:
Who is your favorite unsigned Band?

Daniel Blake:
I dont have any fav. unsigned bands... I'm not that much into the underground/indie world.

CK:
How did you/all learn to play, self or school?

Daniel Blake:
Self. Guitar for 10 years and vocals since I was old enough to sing twinkle twinkle...

CK:
What is important to you about the music?

Daniel Blake:
Music should be from the heart. Not over complicated, but well written and descriptive. Painting several visual images in peoples minds. I want people to remember where they were when they first hear my music and who they were with. That's the kind of impact I have come to expect of all music. If it doesnt catch me, it's lacking something. Either depth, soul, creativity, quality, taste, or a combination of all of these.

CK:
So, tell me..what exactly, motivates you, the artist to write songs?

Daniel Blake:
Mostly really crappy life experiences. My pain has been unique and my story is long, but my songs are more heartfelt and have come out of that pain. Mainly about my wife who I fell in love with and married in 4 months time and now have a baby with. She walked out on me the night of our wedding after we had an argument, so it's been "unique" to say the least. It has driven me to recall the good times, while living in the bad times. I've tried to reconcile with her for 8 months now... She wont budge.

CK:
When did you first start singing, what made you choose music?

Daniel Blake:
As a kid in kindergarten. I didnt choose music. It chose me.

CK:
Are you looking to get a record deal? Why?

Daniel Blake:
Yes. B/c I'm not made for this 9-5 bullsh!t, and because I want to become rich doing what I love.

CK:
What would you like to change about your city's local music scene?

Daniel Blake:
Everything... First of all, I would want there to be more decent bands out there, but not much I can do about that. They all suck pretty much. They all think that they will become rockstars if they just work hard enough. I'm like, well, I'll tell you what... You keep working on your local gigs and your crappy music and I'll keep working on mine. When mine is ready, I'll get it in the right hands and it wont be a matter of "if" I get signed, but I'll have to decide which deal is best for me. I'm not taking the first offer that is thrown at me. That's how you get screwed for the first 2-5 years of your career.

CK:
If you could talk to anyone in the music business, who would it be?

Daniel Blake:
OOOh... Tough one... I would have to say Simon Cowell. Because he's right about everything he says (except when the Idol producers want him to tone it down), and because he's one of the greatest producers out there. His music is pop mainstream, but is powerful enough that you dont care who wrote it. You just like the person who performed it and you like the sounds. He's stayed up on his powerful sound. It's an element that runs through all of his productions...

CK:
Name and describe your most memorable gig.

Daniel Blake:
Proably the drunken one! LOL.... :)

CK:
Introduce the members in the band:

Daniel Blake:
Vocals: Daniel Blake Guitars: Daniel Blake Anything else I didnt cover: Daniel Blake

CK:
Who are your biggest influences?

Daniel Blake:
Are you kidding? The list is too long, but I'll give you a couple... Writing: Bob Dylan/Sarah Mclaughlin/Goo's/Bob Marley/Marc Cohn/ Vocal styling: Clapton/Goo's/Johnny Lang/Keith Green/Marc Cohn/Skynard/Third eye blind/Five for fighting...

CK:
How experienced are you or the band on the stage?

Daniel Blake:
10 years in my room... I led worship for 2 years at the church I grew up in and was in the band for 5 years. More experience than most local artists get... That's for sure, although not my music. Which sucked for me at the time...

CK:
If you wanted to make your own genre name, what would it be?

Daniel Blake:
Country-Fried-Blue-Rock

CK:
Fast or Slow?

Daniel Blake:
Both baby.... Oh yeah... You gotta know how to work those melodies both ways. Slow is more fun to sing and prove artistry vocally, while fast works to show off your guitar/rhythm skills...

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