North Carolina native Kevin Daniel has spent the past decade in Brooklyn, NY, but found himself returning to his home state during the pandemic. After closing the NY chapter of his life in more ways than one, the move allowed the singer-songwriter a bit of a reset while quarantine provided time to write songs leading to his latest album Been Here Before released on July 16th.
We recently caught up with Kevin to talk about his time in NC and NYC, how time during the pandemic inspired his writing, and his most recent release.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
KD: My name is Kevin Daniel and I’m an Americana musician originally from North Carolina. I lived in New York City for the last ten years and am about to make the move to Nashville, TN. To date, I have four albums out and typically tour throughout the east coast and Texas. I’m a full-time artist and gig both solo and with my band The Bottom Line.
CN: You grew up singing, and like most of us as kids, Disney was your turn-to catalogue. What was your favorite Disney tune to belt out?
KD: Oh man, what a great question. I do love me some Disney! It was definitely “Under The Sea” from The Little Mermaid. I also was really into Beauty and the Beast and belted out plenty of tunes from that movie.
CN: Singing progressed to playing the piano followed by the sax, which led to performing in state symphonic bands and touring with classical horn trios. How has having such an in-depth understanding of performing, especially within an orchestra, shaped you as an artist?
KD: Teamwork makes the dream work! I think playing with bands which could sometimes consist of dozens of people helped to train my ear to listen. I’m always listening to everyone in the band and the crowd, using it to influence sound and which songs we play. I think it’s easy to get lost in yourself sometimes while performing, but after every show I could tell which songs we screwed up and who made the mistakes.
CN: You’ve also played blues, jazz, ska, bluegrass, and so on. Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
KD: Like many artists, my influences are far and wide. In terms of my genre, artists like Jason Isbell, Langhorne Slim, Margo Price, Marcus King, Dolly Parton, and Tom Petty have influenced me heavily. Outside of that, everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Ella Fitzgerald to Lauren Hill have played a role in my songwriting. I never really had a musical focus and sort of absorbed everything when it came my way. Lots of bluegrass in there too!
CN: Songwriters have the ability to take personal events covering all emotions and turn them into cathartic pieces of lyrical art. Unfortunately you had a family tragedy that led to your songwriting.
KD: Yeh, sadly many people have to wait till a tragedy to start really living their life. I lost my mother and stepfather in a plane crash in 2013. Needless to say it changed everything and ultimately led me to becoming a full time musician. I’m not sure I would have made the step from hobby to career if it weren’t for some serious introspection.
CN: How therapeutic has songwriting been for you?
KD: Songwriting is everything. It’s my life, it’s the core of what makes me, me. Everything else is just doing something not songwriting until I write another song, even performing live. Writing in any form is very therapeutic, and I think when you throw music in there, it adds another layer to the healing.
CN: Could you take us through your songwriting process? Do you prefer to write with a piano or guitar?
KD: My process is not perfected and certainly not as good as it could be. When I’m in a writing phase, which can last months, I try to write every few days, setting aside time during the day to do so. I also record anything that comes to mind on my voice memos app. Once I get the basic melody down, usually for the chorus or the hook, I start working on the chords. After that I’ll really focus on the verse melodies and the lyrics throughout. Most songs come to the recording studio as demos with just guitar and vocals. The music kinda’ comes alive on its own once I get other people involved.
CN: You recently moved back to your home state of North Carolina after living in Brooklyn for 10 years. In what ways has living in NY and NC influenced your writing?
KD: North Carolina and New York are two very different places, but to me that’s a good thing. Most of my writing is about my childhood, which took place in NC. I take that inspiration and apply this gritty layer of New York City over it, adding jazz, blues and crunch where I can. Small town life is the base, and big city insanity fills in the gaps and adds flair.
CN: Did you find yourself writing more or less during the pandemic?
KD: I’ve never written as much in my life as I have in the last 18 months. I went through a painful breakup, left New York City, and joined some great email chains dedicated to songwriting. The combo left me with dozens of songs to choose from for my latest album.
CN: On July 16th you released your sophomore album Been Here Before, which is a very personal and deep collection of songs. What was the inspiration behind putting this album together?
KD: As mentioned before, I went through a very painful breakup right before lockdown came into place in NYC. This new loneliness, combined with the loneliness brought on by the pandemic played a large role in the songwriting. But also, hope. I’d like to find hope in this album that we have all struggled and made it through, and we can do so again, even in the face of global suffering.
CN: The latest single “My Oh My” features Ashlee Joy Hardee, formerly of the band Matrimony. What was it like recording with Ashlee?
KD: Ashlee is the bomb! She’s an amazing songwriter and singer and I basically had to beg her to let me finish this tune. She had a great chorus, and something of a verse, and we hashed it out at a cabin in the woods in eastern Tennessee one weekend. She also produced the song when it was recorded at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville. She’s so damn creative, it was great to work with her.
CN: Are there plans for a music video?
KD: There are! The music video was shot a month ago in my house in West Asheville, NC. It’s coming out (if it hasn’t already) on Ditty TV on 8/9 and stars Ashlee and I. You can see it after its debut at youtube.com/kevindanielmusic! It involves a lot of smashing things and some fancy suits.
CN: Luckily you have been able to get back on the road, including a few tour stops with Johnny Chops of Randy Rogers Band. How was it to get back out and play live music?
KD: Johnny is the man and a great friend. I love touring and was so excited to get back on the road with the band. Billy Pearson was on guitar, Renee Hikari on drums, and Keith Harry on bass. We played all over the southeast and the fans were showing up in force. People are really, really excited to get back to shows and see live music. The enthusiasm was intense, every single night we played. I’m 100% exhausted.
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
KD: I’d love to write a song with Jason Isbell. He’s the best songwriter out there right now and I just want to be present when he creates something.
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
KD: The first concert I ever went to was a Jimmy Buffet show in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was the night before a family vacation to the Bahamas, and my parents thought it would be fun to kick off the trip with some fellow parrot heads. Not the coolest answer in the world.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
KD: Performer. I’m a Leo and I like being the center of attention. My friends call it “The Kevin Show”.
CN: What’s next on the horizon?
KD: Touring, touring, and more touring. I’m trying to bring this album to the people! Check out all my dates thekevindaniel.com/tour.
8/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Cafe
8/19 – Raleigh, NC @ Pour House (w/ Chris McGinnis)
8/20 – Farmville, VA @ North Street Press Club
8/21 – Crozet, VA @ Starr Hill Brewery
8/22 – Lancaster, PA @ Tellus360 (w/ 49 Winchester)
8/23 – Paul Smiths, NY @ Paul Smith’s College
8/25 – Newmarket, NH @ Stone Church (Dead Archer)
8/27 – Chicago, IL @ Uncommon Ground Lakeview
9/04 – Summerville, SC @ Montreux Bar & Grill
9/05 – Columbia SC @ Market on Main
9/14 – New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2)
9/23 – Nashville, TN @ AmericanaFest (Fat Kat Slim’s)
9/24 – Nashville, TN @ AmericanaFest (Audio Authorities)
9/27 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe (w/ Afton Wolfe)
9/28 – Tupelo, MS @ Blue Canoe (w/ Afton Wolfe)
9/29 – Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar (w/ Afton Wolfe)
9/30 – Birmingham, AL @ The Nick (w/ Afton Wolfe)
10/1 – Jackson, MS @ Hal & Mal’s (w/ Afton Wolfe)
10/2 – Laurel, MS @ 320 Fifth Street (w/ Afton Wolfe)
10/15 – Charlottesville VA @ The Whiskey Jar
10/24 – Mills River, NC @ Mills River Brewing Co. (w/ Stephen Babcock)
10/30 – Mills River, NC @ Mills River Brewing Co.
12/3 – Brevard, NC @ 185 King Street
12/4 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House
12/10 – Wilmington, NC @ Live at Ted’s
12/17 – Greenville, NC @ Pitt Street Brewing Co
1/24 – London, ENG @ UK Americana Music Week
2/20 – Kerrville, TX @ Schreiner University
For more information on Kevin Daniel, visit his website at thekevindaniel.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.