Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew McDaniel.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Matthew. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started by listening and dancing to Michael Jackson when I was a year old. Played in junior high band and sang in the church choir. I finished college and started playing Texas country cover songs on my front porch in Austin, TX. I spent two years playing small local festivals and small venues in Northeast, TX where I grew up. Then I moved to Dallas where I immediately hit the local open mic scene where I scored some quick gigs and got my name around town. After seeing this would only take me so far I decided I needed to write some songs and record and album, so I did. It was terrible but it did put me out there further. After playing and starting to travel regionally on my own for a while I decided I needed a band. I put together pick up bands and played shows in the same region for another year and a half. I had many promises from local DJ’s, promoters, booking agents, radio, you name it. I played their game for a while none of it panned out. I wasn’t playing the music I wanted to play, where or how I wanted to play it. I didn’t even really have a genre. I would say things were not going well, but I was playing a lot and making a modest living doing only that.
Restless and ambitious as I can be, I wanted more I came up with a band name early one morning in late winter of 2010. Thieves of Sunrise was born, then I needed members, that took five months, a couple of mishaps with the wrong people and connections with former pickup members then after we had five. Three more months of rehearsals and songwriting and we finally September 2011 we played our first show, week two we headed to Colorado. Through eight years of ups and downs, independent labels, local shows, opening spots, regional touring, national touring, member changes, bad radio promoters, tumultuous relationships with management companies, sponsorships undelivered, spotted international shows, international radio, three albums, singles, producers, studios, Thieves of Sunrise is on hiatus and I oddly find myself in a new place that has a ting of the past but viewed through the weight of all the miles. I am trying something new in this limbo, exploring my art my passion its different but its good, 2019 I dipped my toe into touring solo and 2020 I am diving in headfirst. There are obviously details and names left out but only for the fact I could turn this interview to a novel. For the time being, I am going all-in on me, I literally have gone one man band and I can’t wait to show you what I am whipping up.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Definitely not music like any art can be a cruel mistress. If you do it right then you are doing it for you. Success is reliant on your personal measure. I, being more than somewhat ambitious am always reaching for the stars so that means others have to like your music. If they do, there are always others who are willing to take advantage hence the music “business”. People who don’t create seem to forget that without those of us that do, their employment would be non-existent. I have had every struggle, every kind of band member problem management issues, in fighting has been taken advantage of by PR agents, producers, shelved by labels sent on tour without show confirmations. Then there are the flat tires, broken and stolen gear no pay, low pay, shiesty promoters and everyone who is trying to ride your coattails, steal your contacts and gigs. I know what you are thinking why would anyone want to do this, I am certain we will get to that.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a musician, I have a band (not currently active), I am a one man band solo touring artist I sing, write, produce, play harmonica, guitar, bass, drums and percussion. I am most proud that despite all of the trials I have been saddled with I have kept going done things my way, remained independent, making art people appreciate, touched their lives and remained relevant. What sets me apart? Change, defiance. I have always been told that I have my own sound no matter what I do, no matter who I am compared to I don’t know if that is true, the one thing I make an attempt at is to be honest, truth and sound like me, no one else. A hard task not to take on those who influence you. I keep changing, evolving, but not on purpose, my music is what comes to me no more no less no intent. I am defiant of the business, any construct that tells me how I should be or what I “should be doing.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
The big change would be my focus on my solo work for the first time in years, Adding a one band element to my solo show. I am working on not one but two solo albums to put out over the next 18 months. It has been ten years since I put out any solo work I will also use this interview to announce that I am going on several tours my solo tour is the “Nomad Tour”, I am embarking on “The Emerald Road Tour” with my friend Matt Jaffe on the West Coast in November and in 2020, well I am taking on even more tours and open acts, touring internationally, I am going to keep building this independently and I am going to do it my way. We will see what radio and other mass outlets have to say.
Contact Info:
- Website: matthewmarcusmcdaniel.com
- Email: matthew@matthewmarcusmcdaniel.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/matthewmmcdaniel
- Facebook: facebook.com/matthewmarcusmcdaniel
- Twitter: twitter.com/mmmcdanielmusic
- Other: youtube.com/matthewmmcdaniel
Image Credit:
Mark Rauterkus, Romina Olsen, Ron McQueen, Tandra Salone, Lisa McDaniel
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