As anyone who regularly logs on to One Stop Record Shop will know, we’re never ones to miss out on an opportunity to hobnob with up-and-coming music stars from around the globe. Well-informed regulars will also know that One Stop Record Shop are holders of the holy-grail of musical knowledge – no we don’t have access to Dave Grohl’s diary – in the form of Danielle De Wolfe. Taking both of these facts into account, when we were given the opportunity to chat with the one and only Daniel Pearson over an e-beer in the sunshine, it was an offer we couldn’t refuse. OSRS sent one Dan to interview the other (we’re not telling you which way around) before the sun disappeared and the Great British weather got the better of them!
The office were pretty excited to discover that during your early career you were heavily involved with punk / rock music? Were there any bands in particular that heavily influenced you?
I was really into Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and Metallica – that whole American rock thing. When I first learnt to play guitar, they were the songs I was schooled on and my first garage bands used to cover them very badly. I actually got into Oasis a little bit later and the songwriting blew me away! From there it was tracking things back to The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin. My parents were always massive Springsteen fans too and I fought that for a while like kids do, until I realised he’s basically the greatest rock songwriter of the last forty years! So he’s probably my biggest single influence as a writer and performer…
Now as a solo artist your sound has evolved into a more of a laid back indie-rock vibe, was this a natural progression?
Part of that is out of necessity. When I started playing solo shows I didn’t have a band and was writing a lot on the acoustic, and I kinda found a sound that fitted with my voice and my songwriting. Some of my songs on my albums have a bigger sound and a rock n’ roll feel, but I’ve always liked the simplicity and directness of being able to play a song by myself. It sure makes touring and recording a lot easier!
Trust us, we can totally believe that! If you could sum up your sound in 3 words what would they be?
Just good songs.
To the point, we like it! So if you were able to collaborate with any other artist dead or alive to produce a single, who would it be?
I wish Kurt Cobain was still alive because I think by now he’d be going through a really cool, Laurel Canyon / Neil Young phase of interesting stuff. So I’d like to work with that on him, if it were at all possible!
Hey, we can all dream; life would get pretty dull otherwise! Is there particular venue that you always look forward to playing when on tour?
Anywhere where people show up to see me play is good! I spent a long time playing shows to hardly anybody, so when I have an audience that supports me and buys my records or whatever I always value it. I have a great relationship with my fans and I think they’re the most important factor in keeping me doing this and moving my career forward.
OK, niceties over, now we want the gossip – what is the most embarrassing thing to happen during a live show?
So you know at gigs how there’s often ‘the weird guy’, standing by themselves and acting oddly – like dancing crazy or shouting random things out?!
Don’t get us started!
[laughs] Well that happens a lot! And it’s strange when you’re playing kinda gentle acoustic songs. You just learn to deal with it – I’ve developed a fine line of semi-witty banter.
Witty banter is a British staple, you should feel proud! As an artist, are there any music videos that you have watched recently and thought, ‘I wish I had done that’?
The Hozier video for “Take Me To Church” struck a chord didn’t it? Of course it helps when you’ve got massive record label marketing departments promoting it everywhere, but I thought that video was very powerful and really helped the song break through. The best idea recently was surely The Black Keys and “Lonely Boy” – that probably cost 5% of a Katy Perry video budget but it was hilarious!
For those readers who want to check out your music, what have you got planned in the coming months?
I’ve finished recording my third album, so that will be out this summer! People can find me on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and the usual places!
Daniel’s third album ‘Alone, Together‘ will be released on 21st August on Saint In The City Records and you can get your hands on a free download of Waves In The Sea now. Alternatively you can find him lurking about on his website (he’s trapped there you see and only let out for interviews) for more information.
