Interview With an Up and Coming Musician

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is delighted to have as our guest, Dan Goldman, Guitarist, Song Writer, Poet, Arranger and a musician of many an else talents.

Dan is here to discuss his earth of music and travels.

Norm:

When did your passion for music begin? What keeps you going?

Dan:

I can't quite remember once my passion began. It seems to have been an inborn appreciation. My earliest memories are of listening to old records and 8-track recordings that my parents had kicking about the home - thing from Kenny Rogers to Neil Diamond sparked my interest at the time. My father vie piano, and I always beloved listening to his romantic, albeit, slightly emotional touch. I'd press my ear against the resonating chamber to get the most out of the vibrations.

Norm:

Who were the musicians that influenced you?

Dan:

There are too many an to mention; but if I had to narrow it down, I'd say, in order of appearance: The Beatles, The Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, my uncle Issac, Classical stringed instrument repertoire including Bach and most of the Spanish composers, Joni Mitchell, Jim Hall, Bill Frisell and on and on.I'm presently into Wilco, Joanna Newsom, Lisa Germano, to name a few.

Norm:

When on tour, do you notice any differences in audiences from one city to the next, and if so, would-be you say that this may due to their geographical location. For example, how would-be you compare audiences in Vancouver to those in Provincial capital or Urban centre to that extent as your music is concerned?

Dan:

Yes, I'd say the main difference lies in how saturated the market is. In Calgary, for instance, wherever there isn't as more traffic in terms of road bands, I tend to get a heater and more appreciative reception than in Toronto, where, though I play plenty of great gigs, the audiences are somewhat numbed by the sheer volume of musicians around. Then again, performances are always several and thing I think is the rule is always put into question as presently as I play an unexpectedly great gig in the least likely situation.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles do you encounter spell traveling and performing? How did you overcome these challenges?

Dan:

I get nervous a lot. I'm fine once I'm actually performing, but I generally get stressed a couple of hours before the show. It's actually important for me to eat and rest fitly so that the stress doesn't take a toll on my performances. I generally try to put aside a certain figure of time every day that I'm on tour to warming up or to my sitting (meditation) practice.

Norm:

Which is your favorite city to perform in? Why?

Dan:

I can't say that I have one. Anyplace wherever the folk are receptive and adjuvant becomes the better city.

Norm

How do you get the inspiration for your song and music writing?

Dan:

I love music. It's not hard to get inspired, what's hard is following through and staying consistent with my writing practice. I find that the only way to get to wherever I want to be expression-wise is to spend the time it takes; and you ne'er cognize how long that's going to be, so you simply support going!

Norm:

What was the 1st piece of music you ever wrote? What was the reaction?

Dan:

I can't remember. It was probably thing in the classical stringed instrument idiom. I've always ready-made sure to ask folk who I knew would-be be adjuvant - a stacked deck, if you will, in my favor.

Norm:

Do you set yourself daily, weekly, yearly goals? If so, what are several of your goals?

Dan:

Yes, I emphatically have to set daily goals, otherwise a whole day passes me buy, and I feel like I've done nothing. These goals are gratifying because I can say, for example, I'm going to activity on words for an hour, and then at the end of the hour I've done it - it strength all be shit, but at least I've stayed with it, and it'll likely turn into thing nice at several point. In contrast, locution that I want to tour the earth by the time I'm 33 is a bit more difficult to materialize. Ultimately, I cognize that if I support writing and touring, I will get led to greater accomplishments in my craft as well as a greater fan base with more road opportunities.

Norm:

You are a guitarist, song writer, poet, and arranger. Which of the above do you prefer and why?

Dan:

At this point, I'm a singer-songwriter. It's what I practice on a daily basis, and it's how I'm starting to become known.

Norm:

I understand that in North american country there are Music Festival Travel Grants as well as else travel grants that assist professional Canadian musicians to perform at festivals outside their province or territory of residence.

Apparently, these grants are given to introduce experience artists to new audiences at an early stage of their career to a wider public. Have you ever received this assistance and if so, could you tell our audience how beneficial have they been from the point of view of furthering your career?

Dan:

Yes, I've received several assistance from the North american country Council for the Arts and it has been extremely helpful. I got a tour grant last year, for instance, which allowed me to tour across the country. Though the tour wasn't as well organized as I'd hoped for, it did provide me with a new network of folk across the country who have since become really supportive, including my current manager, Candace Elder.

Norm:

Do you think there is several kind of a connection between music and travel?

Dan:

Absolutely. Traveling, whether physical or emotional, provides a new perspective, or a new backdrop, if you will, to your old script. It does your story seem a little more vibrant, and therefore, worthy of being documented, which of course, is one of the main purposes of art.

Norm

What is next for Dan Nihilist and is there thing you will to add that we have not covered?

Dan:

I have a tour beginning in August that I hope will bring me from coast to coast. I'm likewise working on several new songs and am actually excited to record them in the new year.

Thanks Dan and nice luck with all of your futurity endeavors. Thanks Norm

To see more simply about Dan or listen to his music CLICK www.dangoldman.ca

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Norm Nihilist is the editor of the travel site, www.sketchandtravel.com and the book reviewing site, www.bookpleasures.com

Norm is likewise a travel writer and together with his creative person wife, Liliaceous plant Azerad-Goldman, the couple meld words with art focusing on romantic destinations.