Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Hi, I am Dan from Massive Cranes, I live in West London. I am old and have been making music my whole life, I don’t think I made a conscious to start a music career it is just sort of happening, though getting cancer a couple of years ago kind of brought in a focus that I had lacked for a couple of decades! It seems a near death experience really focuses the mind on what is important to you, and for me that is mucking about with words and making music with my friends.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: I have a 1st class degree from the London School of Music, though I got it many many years ago and truthfully I was recording and releasing music before that with my first band. I think that there is no such thing as a finished education in music, or in anything really, you just keep going and learning and practising the whole time. I come from a hip hop background and that is a very competitive environment, you are always trying to be ‘better’ than everyone else. Though these days I just want each thing I write to have a resonance with someone else somehow. I don’t care how many multi syllable patterns there are or how fast it can be delivered. I just want the words to mean something to someone somewhere.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Massive Cranes’?
A: The name came from my son. He has a knack for good names, our cat Pickles and our (imaginary) dog Bang are testament to that. I just asked him what daddies band should be called and without missing a beat he said Massive Cranes, so Massive Cranes it is. My influences as a musician come from everywhere really. As a youngster I really looked up to the local rappers around me. These days I really love the story telling in Alt Americana and I like the spikyness of post punk, mainly the music needs to be authentic and from the heart. I can’t stand cynicism in any way. I know that Adam (OSTR), who produces all the Massive Cranes music is really influenced by Polish Jazz and by modern trap and hip hop which I think leads to an interesting combination between us.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘The Beginning’. Is there a story behind it?
A: The Beginning is a song about mundanity and finding peace and beauty in that, and to just not worry about stuff. It is simple really. It was one of the first songs we wrote together. Helen Fisher, who has an amazing voice, sings and plays piano on it, I think it gives it a really delicate edge that the early demos were missing.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: As I mentioned I have recently had a lot of treatment for cancer. The Massive Cranes project came about because, basically I wanted something to focus on while I was in hospital, so I spoke with Adam and he sent me a load of rough beats, every time I went into hospital I wrote to some. So as a result we have a lot of written music. We have an album totally finished and due for release next year and another written and recorded, with a load of other half finished things floating around. We are still writing a lot too but it is all about momentum so we are releasing a string of singles first.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I think saying something heartfelt and honest is the central point of the music. It is at times brutally honest, which I like. Adam is a bit of a genius on the production side of things and has a few platinum albums in his home country of Poland under his belt so he really understands how to build a sound and make it unique. I would describe the sound as experimental and abstract but with a real nod to modern hip hop music (though I am not sure it is hip hop really) and a lot of lovely live piano all over the top.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: I am just enjoying it for what it is. I expect nothing, just would like to play live and make music with my friends.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Basically I write constantly, Adam makes beats constantly. I try and lay something over something he has done then we tweak and arrange and move it about, Helen often then comes and adds a killer piano line and some vocals and we are done.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: Cancer, don’t get it, it is shit.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: Being a dad. It is an exclusive club that everyone is invited to. It is so fun and so rewarding and really show you what is important in life.
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