Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Katsük.
Daniel, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am the creator of a lyrically potent world fusion group based out Dallas/Fort Worth, called KatsüK. My story begins with finding a musical footing with the help of my first group, the Spoonfed Tribe and touring the country with this wildly uproarious carnival for about eight years. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to be thrown into the fire of touring, writing and becoming a man amidst such talented friends. They gave a shy and highly self-doubting artist a stage, a platform to grow and expand my creative wings with the help of thousands of people pulling the most out of me/us every night. It was through this experience that I began to write, compose and see the power of how music can reshape a room, a field, a life. Music became something more than a self-gratifying tool for my own enjoyment and needs, and into an instrument in which I/we could also better other people’s lives. This became the intoxication: How can we change this room? How can we positively manipulate the preconceived expectations everyone brings into a room, and guide people back into the Unknown, the Mystery? I was the student and teacher, the lab rat and scientist, experimenting every time we took a stage. How close to the edge could we go? Could we go over the side and ever return?
It was a thrilling time, and songs began flooding through me. Now more than I can count, yet many were different than what I was expressing through Spoonfed Tribe and needed a home to sing. Around that moment, I formed another group called, A-hummin’ Acoustical Acupuncture, and the sound was softer, more emotionally story driven and resonated in a deeper tone I was needing to discover in my own self. Spoonfed Tribe was the earthquake opening the space and A-hummin’ Acoustical Acupuncture or AAA, was the water filling the shallows. After much time, there was a calling to devote myself simply to AAA and I left Spoonfed Tribe and moved to Colorado for a few years. Honing a crafting my sound, I eventually returned to Texas and decided to just go by KatsüK, and that is as it has been ever since.
During that time I have had the pleasure to do voice acting for Cartoon Network and continued to tour nationally/internationally and produced four albums, the latest called Labyrinth, and am currently working on six more to come out over the next two years, ranging from meditation atmospheres to full band world rock fusion including a Kundalini Mantra album. Having discovered Yoga in 2012, I soon after became a Yoga Instructor and have been facilitating live musical Kundalini Yoga in workshops and retreat centers across the country. In 2015, I was given the opportunity to write and perform in the soon to be off-Broadway production of The Portal: A Rock Odyssey. Now a father, my goals have shifted to share these experiences with my daughter, as we travel the world to share the ancient science of Kundalini Yoga, sound healing, Kirtan and uplifting conscious Soul music. In conjunction with music and Yoga, I have recently begun co-hosting a radio show called Roots of Radio with the author, Charles Gaby that covers stories of uncovering the truth of our experience. Along with an immutable passion to share, I have gotten where I am today by the grace of Creator, loving friends and many supportive people who have continuously given me an outlet to express this creation as far as we can imagine. I feel absolutely blessed and fortunate to have experienced so much and for all that is coming into form, even now.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The most rewarding roads are never without challenges and mine has seen its share. Heartbreak, depression, continuous reinvention of self, doubt, saboteurs and the like. Yet, all these things push us to be better people. We make mistakes as artists, as humans and all we can hope for is that we have learned how to better walk in the world and not over it. I have hurt others and been hurt. There are people who promise the moon and have never even been there. Everyone seems to know the way to the top of the mountain and we follow and fall. What I have learned most is that when we stand in our truth, our own sovereign lunacy, and work toward being of the highest service, then we will hopefully live a life without regret and has touched the lives of people who have shared the road with us for a while. There will still be challenges, maybe even more, yet it is up to us to find a way to remember why we began what we started in the first place… joy.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about KatsüK – what should we know?
My company is KatsüK Productions and it consists of music production, recording, booking, touring, facilitating Yoga workshops, teaching children music, murals and voice acting. It is an all expansive creative business that passionately expresses my desire to brighten the world through the arts and humanities.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
No one is anyone without everyone. I am beyond fortunate to be where I am all in due to many wonderful and supportive people, too many to count. Yet to name a few that have really lifted this vision beyond my wildest dreams, I would need to thank Brandon Jerome, Matt Cocuzza, Chad Cocuzza, Egg, Troy Williams, Dave Sarna, Michael Rodriguez and Marcious Clay of Spoonfed Tribe for pushing me out on to stage. Tricky Ricky, Orion Pitts and Precious Hill of A-hummin’ Acoustical Acupuncture for so many years of amazing music and friendship. Evan Jones for believing in me and recording so many albums of mine as we were both finding our footing in production. Justin Cook of FUNimation who opened the door to voice acting to me. Jeff Dahlgren who produced and played with KatsüK for many years and helped me understand the complexities of the music business. Luke Comer for giving me an opportunity to write and perform with The Portal. Dr. Kari Rollins for opening the door for me to begin teaching Yoga. My family for believing in me, even when it seemed like I was out of my mind. Musically, I owe my style and inspiration to such wonderful groups as Kan’Nal, R.E.M., Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, John Denver, Rage Against the Machine, Tool, Carlos Nakai, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Led Zeppelin and many others. In general, some of my greatest mentors have been Joseph Campbell, Yogi Bhajan, Paulo Coelho, James Redfield, J.R.R. Tolkien, Yogananda and many others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://katsuk.com/
- Email: booking@katsuk.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katsukmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katsukmusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/katsukmusic
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/katsuk
Image Credit:
Image Credits: Scott Ausburn, Robert Garner, Pitaru and Jeff Dahlgren
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