Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I grew up in Spokane Valley, Washington and I was lucky to have a really great childhood. I was the kind of kid that had friends of all different backgrounds. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up but we had a great extended family and we knew how to make the most of what we had. Summers growing up in the pacific northwest were epic and I drew a lot of my musical inspiration from the great memories I had during those hot months. The late night hangouts at water towers with friends, dreaming of the places we’d go, the jobs we’d have and the type of people we’d ultimately become. The whole world was in front of us, and anything was possible and we lived that way. The stories I tell in my music are directly from those years of early adulthood and all the trouble I got into with whomever was willing to get into it with me.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Marc Daniels”?
A: I plan to grow my fanbase by writing the type of music around ideas and themes that are relatable to everyone. For example, I have a song called “Redheads” and it is about being obsessed with them. Now, not everyone is into redheads obviously but we all have a type and everyone can imagine replacing redheads with something that makes their heart race. So I write my songs in a way that conveys a message that anyone can relate to, but uses examples specific to my life. We all are struggling to achieve something, or missing someone, or going through hard times in our lives whether it be with friends, romantic relationships or our own personal health. So for those new to my sound, there is something in my catalog for everyone. You just gotta know where to look!
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I’m inspired by a lot of different artists and there are way too many to list to call out just one. But I can say that I find my inspiration for making music by the desire to share my experiences with others in hopes that they learn something about themselves. Other people’s music has taught me so much about myself and it has been there for me through the sad times and the happy times. It’s been there for me when I needed motivation and encouragement, or when I felt the overwhelming urge to give up. My motivation is to pass on what music has taught me in life and give back to those who might be in need of a message to move them to feel what they need to feel in that moment.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Good Old Days.”?
A: I was actually inspired to write the Good Old Days based on a quote I heard when I was binge watching one of my favorite shows “The Office.” at 11 oclock at night. Andy Bernard’s character at the end of the series had a great line about wishing someone had told him he was living the good old days when they were actually going on. “Someone should write a song about that,” he said at the very end. That message hit me hard, I was reaching a point in my personal life that I could look back and be grateful of everything I had accomplished but that line reminded me I spend too much time worrying about the future and should focus on enjoying the here and now because we are living the good old days. I have two young boys and I had the idea that I should write the Good Old Days from the perspective of me reminding them when they are older that they are living their good old days and I created a story out of the whole scenario. Just like I used to sneak into my parents house at midnight after a night of messing around, this time it was my turn to tell them what’s up, which was based on my own experience with my parents when I was young.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Summertime
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Good Old Days”?
A: Oh yeah. I actually wrote the demo for the Good Old Days at the end of 2019 and right when I was about to go into the studio to produce it, the pandemic hit and everything in the music industry came to a screeching halt. A few years went by as it sat on the shelf collecting dust but I had always wanted to get back to finishing it. I even bounced it by another producer but didn’t like the direction he was taking the song. Then something unexpected happened. I encountered a major health scare in 2021 that made me think that my music career might be over for good. I spent a few years fighting for my life but came out on the other side alive. That experience really changed my perspective on how precious life really is and to not take any day alive for granted. That inspired me even more to finish the Good Old Days because the whole song is about living in the present and enjoying the good days while you have them, because man, there are going to be some rough times in life. So after a year of recovery and self reflection, I called up my producer Tom Chandler, flew down to LA last fall and we resurrected the “Good Old Days” and wrote two other great songs that I will release later in the year!
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: My message has always been work hard, play hard and push forward no matter what challenges come your way. Life is a beautiful thing, and there are going to be moments where you can touch the sky, and then in an instant there will be something there to clip your wings and send you into a free fall. That’s what makes life beautiful though, it’s the ability to overcome the rough turns in life so you can enjoy the long straight roads where everything falls into place. If things were never bad then nothing would ever be good! It’s a wonderful gift for us to get to experience the good and bad in life. It’s what builds our character and resilience, brings us closer to others and teaches us to let go of those who are not there to support our dreams and success. Life is too short for all of that. As an artist my goal is to make music that shares my story in hopes that it moves someone in some way. Makes them laugh, cry, and feel even if just for a brief moment that they are not alone in this world.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I could imagine what incredible stuff I could come up with by collaborating with Tom Schultz from Boston. Their first album “Boston” was a masterpiece and that band got me into music. A few weeks with me and him in his basement working off each other? Wow, the stuff we could come up with.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: The good news is getting into the industry has never been easier than it is today, but making it a career is probably harder than it has ever been. I always tell people if they are doing music to be famous or rich they are in the wrong business. Recording a song and distributing it is a breeze and there are so many tools and services If you know where to look. But because the door to entry is so low, it is that much harder to stand out given there are thousands of songs being released everyday. So it’s important to be original and true to yourself as an artist. As an artist, you’ll need to have a brand, an idea of what makes up your sound and a style or theme to your songwriting that your fans can relate to. Your brand becomes what you sell, and that embodies your music and your image. Don’t make the music that you think people want to hear. Make the music that makes you happy because the truth is, there isn’t money in music anymore. You will need to be okay with not making a living for a while. I am only able to pursue music the way I want because I built a career that enables me the flexibility to make music on my terms. Build on your momentum and be patient, over time you will find yourself successful and proud of everything you have accomplished. In the end, you are doing this for you.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: I’d tell myself don’t get discouraged, and mistakes are the only thing that is going to make you better. You will make so many mistakes and the more you make, the more you will learn so don’t let being afraid to fail prevent you from trying. I spent so much of my life being afraid to fail only to realize that failure is what breeds success. I wish I had more of that advice when I was younger.
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