Dan Crisp
One of the hottest and most promising new artist’s from the West Country Dan Crisp brings his acoustic melodies and distinctive vocal harmonies to the public’s attention with the release of his debut album Far From Here.I caught up with Dan to find out how he feels about trying to crack the modern music scene, what makes him different from all the other musicians out there and who he doesn’t like in pop music.
What have you been up to this week?
I’ve had loads of rehearsals putting the final touches to the live act and making sure we’ve got all our musical moments down to a tee. We’ve played music once together last month to see how we sounded and the feedback as very positive and now we’re putting in that last 10% to make it more of a show and to ensure we’re a lot tighter as a unit and was a result we’re really happy and raring to go.Your debut album is set for release next week, how do you feel about that?
I’m excited, and I think I’m too excited to be worried to be honest, I don’t know whether that’s a good thing but I’ve got enough good people around me to make sure that everything is going to be alright so I guess I’ve got a bit of a free licence to be very very excited and stuff like rehearsing with the boys and hearing everything sounding good is boosting my confidence and I’m surrounded by such good people that I have no reason to worry so I’m just waiting now to go and do this!
It’s been a long time coming as I started recording the album later last year and it certainly hasn’t taken long to finish but it’s just been a long process working out how to get to the stage we’re at now. Its been a learning process, but it’s been fun all the way!To anyone who hasn’t heard of you before, how would you describe your sound?
Well it’s definatley along the singer/songwriter route but someone else worded it quite nicely; a lady called Maggie Duffy who I met on the open night scene and on the festival circuit; she described it as the songs all being stories and a very modern version of Folk music and storytelling with a rock edge.
There are American undertones as I listen to a lot of that sort of music but it’s grounded by having this semi-English folk background in a modern setting as the days of the cobbled streets and the coal mine of the classic folk songs aren’t what I understand and what my upbringing has been life…so in all it’s a much more modern and up-to-date telling of how I see the world.
What makes you stand out from all the other musicians trying to make it in the music industry at the moment and why should someone buy your album over that of James Morrison or Paolo Nutini?
Well I’d like to think that the music speaks for itself but perhaps it’s the background of how I started; a year ago I started on the open mic scene and that gave me the encouragement to continue writing and certainly to write about the way I see the world and it’s a very simple and honest interpretation of how I see things and that helps me write the songs.
It’s different because it’s my ability to be stood anywhere with one instrument and I’ll sing you and song but with the album we can go crazy and have as many things as we want playing but it all just boils down to a great melody and a good song and a very real interpretation of things.
I like my songs to have a story and they’re very down to Earth and people can interpret them any way they want and its interesting to play music and hear two different interpretations of the same song.
What have you been getting up to in order to promote the album?
I like to be on the front lines when it comes to promoting which means going out to say “Hello” to everyone and taking the opportunity to meet people and to play. I mentioned the open mic circuit was a big boost for me and gave me an opportunity to play anywhere. I’ve had a lot of look with the local radio as everyone seems to like it so with me being able to just walk in with a guitar and play some songs it’s really good.
I have the support of a lot of my local music stores and a lot of the independent music outlets that the record is set to be released in and we want to establish a local scene and move outwards but absolutely look after everyone who comes and supports me and my band as much as they support us. So I’ve just been going out there, introducing myself and playing the songs.
It’s being really great recently as we’ve had a few more people on hand to spread the word but fundamentally it’s just about getting out there and just saying “Hello”
Do you have a favourite track?
Some of them stand out for different reasons. I really like Find Yourself which I put as a free download on my website. I like it a lot because I wrote it quicker than any of the others and it’s pretty simple but I like it’s honesty and a lot of people like it and say it’s a very nice song which makes me like it.
I’ll always enjoy more elaborate tracks like Hollywood which is the first track on the album, but I couldn’t pick a favourite.
If it all goes to plan, where would you like to be 10 years from now?
A year and a half ago I made a deal with myself that I was going to be happy and successful; but only in that order. So I suppose in 10 years time if I can make a living doing the thing I love to do then I think that’s how I know that I’m doing okay so it’s building towards that. Whatever that may be I love music and this is my chance so I’m going to make the most of it!
Is there anything you really want to achieve?
I guess it would be nice to write one of the classic songs that everybody knows and loves and just has that thing about it. There are certain songs that everyone agrees is great and people find very hard to imitate, for example, Aerosmith’s I don’t Wanna Miss A Thing and it’s like every time I hear that song, I think it’s amazing.
There’s an unofficial agreement that that song is amazing and I’m too scared to play it as I can’t do it justice and it makes it an untouchable track and for them to be able to sit there and say “Yeah, we wrote that” I’d love to be able to do that. It probably won’t happen anytime soon but in 10 years, maybe if I work hard enough.
Who do you look up to in the music industry?
Again, I’ve found myself surrounded by people who are better at their craft than me. I play guitar but I don’t play guitar as well as Alan (my bassist) can play his instrument and also I managed to get the chance to work with Martin Barr who plays for Jethro Tull and it’s hugely inspiring because these people are at the top of their game and I work with quite closely and so I really look up to them because they’re so great and it’s happening right in front of my eyes.
There are loads of musicians around the world that I could reel off, [and I’m sure a lot of people would reel off their names,] because they’ve been so inspirational and done so much but everyone looks up to them and I’m just fortunate that I have people close to me that I look up to and who can keep me on the straight and narrow.
Is there anyone you don’t like?
It’s quite complicated because ive got out of saying stuff is bad because it’s just not my thing. I’m not the largest fan of people who aren’t strictly the best role model to people and just take over the press. I’ve stopped worrying about stuff I don’t like and concentrate on things I do like because it’s a bad place for my head to be. I don’t want to knock popular music but there are definitely a few key players who perhaps shouldn’t have the credit that they do.
We ask everyone we interview to come up with a question for the next person we interview....and George Evelyn from Nightmares On Wax wants to know; “What’s the first nice thing you think about when you wake up on a morning?”
Oh man…erm…probably a good cup of tea to be honest. Or it could be coffee if you’re so inclined, I don’t think the morning really starts until you’ve had some.
What would you like to ask the next person I interview?
If you could so something other than what you’re doing what would it be and in contrast, what is the contrast, what is the one thing you wouldn’t want to do?
Watch this space to find out what American rockers Shinedown
FemaleFirst - Ruth HarrisonOne of the hottest and most promising new artist’s from the West Country Dan Crisp brings his acoustic melodies and distinctive vocal harmonies to the public’s attention with the release of his debut album Far From Here.I caught up with Dan to find out how he feels about trying to crack the modern music scene, what makes him different from all the other musicians out there and who he doesn’t like in pop music.
What have you been up to this week?
I’ve had loads of rehearsals putting the final touches to the live act and making sure we’ve got all our musical moments down to a tee. We’ve played music once together last month to see how we sounded and the feedback as very positive and now we’re putting in that last 10% to make it more of a show and to ensure we’re a lot tighter as a unit and was a result we’re really happy and raring to go.Your debut album is set for release next week, how do you feel about that?
I’m excited, and I think I’m too excited to be worried to be honest, I don’t know whether that’s a good thing but I’ve got enough good people around me to make sure that everything is going to be alright so I guess I’ve got a bit of a free licence to be very very excited and stuff like rehearsing with the boys and hearing everything sounding good is boosting my confidence and I’m surrounded by such good people that I have no reason to worry so I’m just waiting now to go and do this!
It’s been a long time coming as I started recording the album later last year and it certainly hasn’t taken long to finish but it’s just been a long process working out how to get to the stage we’re at now. Its been a learning process, but it’s been fun all the way!To anyone who hasn’t heard of you before, how would you describe your sound?
Well it’s definatley along the singer/songwriter route but someone else worded it quite nicely; a lady called Maggie Duffy who I met on the open night scene and on the festival circuit; she described it as the songs all being stories and a very modern version of Folk music and storytelling with a rock edge.
There are American undertones as I listen to a lot of that sort of music but it’s grounded by having this semi-English folk background in a modern setting as the days of the cobbled streets and the coal mine of the classic folk songs aren’t what I understand and what my upbringing has been life…so in all it’s a much more modern and up-to-date telling of how I see the world.
What makes you stand out from all the other musicians trying to make it in the music industry at the moment and why should someone buy your album over that of James Morrison or Paolo Nutini?
Well I’d like to think that the music speaks for itself but perhaps it’s the background of how I started; a year ago I started on the open mic scene and that gave me the encouragement to continue writing and certainly to write about the way I see the world and it’s a very simple and honest interpretation of how I see things and that helps me write the songs.
It’s different because it’s my ability to be stood anywhere with one instrument and I’ll sing you and song but with the album we can go crazy and have as many things as we want playing but it all just boils down to a great melody and a good song and a very real interpretation of things.
I like my songs to have a story and they’re very down to Earth and people can interpret them any way they want and its interesting to play music and hear two different interpretations of the same song.
What have you been getting up to in order to promote the album?
I like to be on the front lines when it comes to promoting which means going out to say “Hello” to everyone and taking the opportunity to meet people and to play. I mentioned the open mic circuit was a big boost for me and gave me an opportunity to play anywhere. I’ve had a lot of look with the local radio as everyone seems to like it so with me being able to just walk in with a guitar and play some songs it’s really good.
I have the support of a lot of my local music stores and a lot of the independent music outlets that the record is set to be released in and we want to establish a local scene and move outwards but absolutely look after everyone who comes and supports me and my band as much as they support us. So I’ve just been going out there, introducing myself and playing the songs.
It’s being really great recently as we’ve had a few more people on hand to spread the word but fundamentally it’s just about getting out there and just saying “Hello”
Do you have a favourite track?
Some of them stand out for different reasons. I really like Find Yourself which I put as a free download on my website. I like it a lot because I wrote it quicker than any of the others and it’s pretty simple but I like it’s honesty and a lot of people like it and say it’s a very nice song which makes me like it.
I’ll always enjoy more elaborate tracks like Hollywood which is the first track on the album, but I couldn’t pick a favourite.
If it all goes to plan, where would you like to be 10 years from now?
A year and a half ago I made a deal with myself that I was going to be happy and successful; but only in that order. So I suppose in 10 years time if I can make a living doing the thing I love to do then I think that’s how I know that I’m doing okay so it’s building towards that. Whatever that may be I love music and this is my chance so I’m going to make the most of it!
Is there anything you really want to achieve?
I guess it would be nice to write one of the classic songs that everybody knows and loves and just has that thing about it. There are certain songs that everyone agrees is great and people find very hard to imitate, for example, Aerosmith’s I don’t Wanna Miss A Thing and it’s like every time I hear that song, I think it’s amazing.
There’s an unofficial agreement that that song is amazing and I’m too scared to play it as I can’t do it justice and it makes it an untouchable track and for them to be able to sit there and say “Yeah, we wrote that” I’d love to be able to do that. It probably won’t happen anytime soon but in 10 years, maybe if I work hard enough.
Who do you look up to in the music industry?
Again, I’ve found myself surrounded by people who are better at their craft than me. I play guitar but I don’t play guitar as well as Alan (my bassist) can play his instrument and also I managed to get the chance to work with Martin Barr who plays for Jethro Tull and it’s hugely inspiring because these people are at the top of their game and I work with quite closely and so I really look up to them because they’re so great and it’s happening right in front of my eyes.
There are loads of musicians around the world that I could reel off, [and I’m sure a lot of people would reel off their names,] because they’ve been so inspirational and done so much but everyone looks up to them and I’m just fortunate that I have people close to me that I look up to and who can keep me on the straight and narrow.
Is there anyone you don’t like?
It’s quite complicated because ive got out of saying stuff is bad because it’s just not my thing. I’m not the largest fan of people who aren’t strictly the best role model to people and just take over the press. I’ve stopped worrying about stuff I don’t like and concentrate on things I do like because it’s a bad place for my head to be. I don’t want to knock popular music but there are definitely a few key players who perhaps shouldn’t have the credit that they do.
We ask everyone we interview to come up with a question for the next person we interview....and George Evelyn from Nightmares On Wax wants to know; “What’s the first nice thing you think about when you wake up on a morning?”
Oh man…erm…probably a good cup of tea to be honest. Or it could be coffee if you’re so inclined, I don’t think the morning really starts until you’ve had some.
What would you like to ask the next person I interview?
If you could so something other than what you’re doing what would it be and in contrast, what is the contrast, what is the one thing you wouldn’t want to do?
Watch this space to find out what American rockers Shinedown
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison