Getting acquainted with the newcomer who’s already turning heads.
Despite only dropping his debut release, “Feel”, last month, Dan Crossley has already been marked as one to watch. The track has been featured on THE LINE OF BEST FIT, GOING SOLO and MUSIC WEEK, and his subsequent EP of the same name is set to make a similar impression. Full of searing lyrics carried by waves of electronic dance beats, “Feel” reflects the struggles of the 21 year-old’s youth, and the emotional journey that took him from suburban Telford to the 02 stage in London.
We sat down with the singer songwriter for a moment of calm to talk about his new found success.
Hey Dan, how are you?
Very happy thanks.
When did you first fall in love with music?
I remember as a kid my dad would always play Motown and soul vinyls around the house. Every time a song came on it was like nothing else mattered.
What artists did you listen to growing up?
I would listen to Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, loads of soul music.
Are they the same as the ones that you listen to now?
I have love for all kinds of music – as long as I connect to it and it makes me feel something then I’m good.
When you were 17 you moved to London. What was the reason for the move?
I had a lot going on at home growing up and I was always very independent. At 17 I had already been working for three years and I felt like I was ready to set out on my own; London was always the first point of call music wise so I got myself straight down here.
You’ve just released your debut EP “Feel”. Can you tell us a bit more about it?
“Feel” was written and recorded in five days. Every song on the EP holds a memory of a specific time. I was in a relationship at the time and writing my way through certain problems really helped me, as it always has. I like to think that as much as my music helps me, it can help other people too.
What were the main inspirations for the record?
I wanted to create a well rounded project, slower songs, faster songs. I was going out a lot at the time and listening to loads of house and dance music. Songs like “Kryptonite” and “Nothing But Love” are the songs that lyrically and melodically could bring me to tears but you can still go mad in the club to it.
You’re only 21! Do you think that your age has an impact on your music?
People are often surprised, but I’m not a huge believer in age being significant. I’ve been through what most 30 year-olds have been through so I guess you could say I’ve got an old soul, haha, I hope that comes across in my writing.
What else do you have lined up for this year?
This year I want to just continue making music that I love and hopefully more and more people will hear it.