Interview with Dan and The Wildfire
Whoever said Twitter is for losers, they must be the loser because a while back, before Mumford and Sons came out with their new album, I tweeted: “Wow, I wish Mumford could come out with another album.” Dan, the lead singer of the band tweeted at me saying, “How about you check us out!” and then provided a link to the bands music. I was shocked at how talented they are and how similar it was to Mumford and Sons. They have a bit of a very folky/ country type sound, which is funny because I am a person who totally enjoys folk-y type music, but not so much of the country genre. Either way, I am glad that the band reached out to me because long after I fell in love with their music, I then direct messaged them asking if they would be interested in an interview, and they were totally cool with it. Dan speaks on behalf of the band. So sit back and feast your eyes on this indie band that may be coming to a city near you.
Where did your band name come from?
We wanted our music to be viral and unstoppable when we formed this band, so we picked a name that would reflect our career goals. Someone shouted out Dan & The Wildfire, and it stuck.
How did you all meet?
Most bands have some magical story about how all of the members met, and it was serendipity. They talk about these crazy relationships that just fell into place. We have no such story. We are five dudes who went to school together in Boston and have a heck of a lot of fun playing music together. That’s pretty much how it went down.
How do you write your music/ where do you look for inspiration?
I take inspiration from all over the place. It’s like my head is on a proverbial swivel. Sometimes I look inward for inspiration, but a lot of the time I’m observing other things, people in my life and their relationships, and sometimes complete strangers. A lot of the time I’ll write a song without thinking about the subject matter. When I play that song back later, I can piece it all together, and it becomes clear what I was actually thinking about at the time.
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What is your musical process?
The birth of a song in Dan & The Wildfire starts with me. I’ll come up with the chords and the words, and then I’ll bring it to the band. Then we learn the tune as I wrote it, and then we usually pick it apart and change the feel. Kyle, Sam, Thom, Matt and I will then start to come up with harmonies, and sing them until we want to throw up. Finally, Thom will add the horn parts, and we’ve got a song on our hands.
Do you play to ever go on tour? If so, when/ where?
We play all over. Burlington, VT, Washington, DC, NYC, Boston, Philly, Chicago in the spring. Basically what I’m trying to say is that no one is safe. Dan & The
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Wildfire is coming for you.
Who are some of your inspirations?
The five of us come from such diverse musical backgrounds. I’m into more of The Band, Decemberists, Mumford & Sons, and Neil Young type of vibe. Kyle will tell you that his favorite drummer is Questlove and that he loves the Roots, and hip-hop in general. Thom is a Jazz guy and loves Miles Davis. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure he owns every Miles Davis record. Sam tends to draw from Dawes, Blitzen Trapper, and things in that genre, while Matt (keys) listens to lots of Kate Rusby. Actually, Matt will listen to anything as long as he’s eating an obscene amount of food while doing it.
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What is your favorite album of all time?
I HATE that question! There are so many great albums that I couldn’t live without, but if I had to answer right now, I’d say “Nirvana: Unplugged in New York”. That record changed my life.
Is this band for fun or something you want to pursue with your lives?
We’re all in. Straight up.
Have your performed as a band? If so, what is your ritual?
We perform all the time. The only ritual we have is to go out and give 110% every night.
What do you do individually before you go on stage?
It really depends on the gig. We’re not really a ritualistic band.
Tell me more about how you recorded the album…
The album was recorded live, which was awesome. We were all set up in the studio, playing together, so what you get on the record is a very accurate portrayal of how the band sounds. Also, the record was recorded to tape, which gives you that really old school, raw sound. One of the great things about this record is that we set out to make the record sound a certain way, and we were able to convey exactly what we wanted to. We’re all really proud of this album.
What are some cool facts about the band/ recording the album?
The entire album was cut from start to finish in three days. Our bass player, Sam, is actually an awesome Trombone player and lends his horn skills to the first and last tracks on the album. Also, many burritos were harmed in the making of this record.
What do you want the listeners to get out of this album?
We want listeners to feel like they’re right there in the room with us. We want people to feel excited about the fact that there’s no studio magic, top 40 on this record. We want people to know that what you hear is what you get, and we’re extremely proud of that. Most importantly, we want people to know that this record is for them, and that we sincerely hope that they have as much fun listening to it as we did making it.
Check the band out on their website:
http://www.danandthewildfire.com
On their website you can find there music, store, contact information, store and so much more! Hope you enjoy!
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