Hi Dan,, how's life in sunny Hackney in 2014?
The Hells Angels UK HQ is next door and they're celebrating their 45th year at that address, so the road is closed off and stuffed to the brim with Harley's and leather clad men from another world. Soon they'll all be revving their engines in loud salute to their fellow people. It is exhilarating but I won't be renewing my membership.
What drove the decision to make your new album 'Distance' with a band as against your more recent solo (ish) albums?
Just to keep challenging myself and the songs, looking for new directions and surprises. We wanted to capture gut reactions to the songs rather than long winded, meticulously planned parts. So we just did one rehearsal before the recording session, then tried to capture the spirit of this collection of people. This was definitely the best recording session I've ever been a part of. Focused but wandering through the songs.
A pretty stellar band, how did you all come together?
They are a wonderful bunch, I'm in love with them all. We're all friends and always doing odd bits together here and there... It seemed like a great opportunity to get everyone in one room for a few days.
Do you write songs from real life experiences or do you make up the storyline. Where did you compose the songs on the album?
There's a line of truth in every song and I write a story around it. Or if not truth then a way of expressing an emotion or feeling that rings true to me. Most of the songs were written in an ex-army bunker in Montauk, Long Island. Going to another place is a way of divorcing myself from my everyday life in London... so I don't end up writing songs about my evening in with the laundry, or how upset I am that the sage plant isn't flourishing the way I hoped it would.
Any plans to hit the road solo or with a band for this release?
I'll be doing a few shows here and there... odd dates are popping up in September. Some of them will just be me and Horse, traveling by train, doing Alan Bennett impressions to pass the time. Some shows will be a bigger band. I'll keep you posted.
How hard is it to actually make a living as a musician these days and is it your full time job?
I imagine it’s impossible for most musicians to make a living just from records and touring, a few make it that way of course but a record is not something I've ever expected to make a living from, I do it because I cant stop myself, and it makes me happy.
How would you describe your songs for people that have not heard your music yet?
I'm relying on you to do that for me! But if forced I’d say my records are their own world and you have to go there, if you don't like it, I'll make sure you get home safely.
Is there any place that you have a burning ambition to play a gig at? When was your first gig and what are your memories of that show?
I'd love to play some of the European amphitheaters and I'd like to go back to End of the Road festival. My first show was with my old band Absentee, we played a Mojo magazine London festival, I was scared and uncertain why I'd made the choice to put myself in front of a group of potentially unreactive strangers . I still feel that way but I've gotten more used to it over the last 10 years.
What music have you enjoyed listening to so far this year?
I haven't listened to a lot, I've been seeing gigs to make up for it. Broken Twin, Beth Orton, the Nonesuch label birthday shows and a John Cage prepared piano piece were all highlights.
What was the idea behind the photo on the album cover and where was it taken?
The photo was taken by a friend of mine in Morocco. It seemed to evoke all the aspects of the album title without explicitly suggesting one thing... I love that shot.
'Distance' is being released as a digital download, a CD and on vinyl. What is your preference?
I'm old, I still love the romance of vinyl... the warmth of the sound and the physicality of the object. I still try to give the Cd's some aspect of that by screen printing them and making packaging from hand. As for MP3's, what can I wrap those in? A computer I suppose? I have nothing against MP3's, I think they sound fine and they're a lot cheaper to post to a friend.. I'm just a little old fashioned I suppose.
'Distance is out 18th August and full details are on Dan's website HERE & our review is HERE