Kickstarter

I have always been drawn to music. As a child, I was fascinated with how music artists could convey emotions and take you to another place and time. From as far back as I can remember, I would learn my favorite artists lyrics, melodies, harmonies and if there was a music video or live performance out, I would learn the choreography just because I enjoyed it. Growing up way out in the country, there weren't any neighbor kids to play with so I would spend hours perfecting songs. I would practice in front of a mirror imagining what it would be like to perform for an audience. I would dream of the day that I would get to record and perform my own songs.

At 8 years old my first go at producing music came as a make-shift remix of Paula Abdul's "Promise of a New Day" using 2 cassette tape machines and a little Casio keyboard. I started learning the chord progression of the song on my keyboard and adjusted the tempo of the pre-programmed beats to match the beat of the song. I used one tape deck to record what I was playing on the keyboard while the other tape deck was playing the track. I knew the quality of sounds wasn't professional but  I was just happy being able to express myself with what resources I had. 

I discovered my voice at 15 years old when I joined the school choir. I would audition for solo performance spots using mainstream pop songs with dancers, lighting and costumes. Despite the bullying and backlash during and after my performances, I executed my vision and sound how I wanted and I would secure a spot in the show every year thereafter. As I began to discover artists like Jewel and Sarah McLachlan, I thought it would be good to learn an instrument so I could finally compose my original songs. I used the internet to learn guitar chords of songs and would practice for hours trying to sing and play. Eventually I got the hang of it and wrote my first song when I was 18 years old. 

I moved to Los Angeles in 2000 to pursue my career in music. Coming from a small town L.A. had a LOT to offer in the way of distractions. While I still played coffee shops and open mics around L.A., I began to experiment with drugs and alcohol. I managed to juggle part-time job after part-time job throughout my heavy drug and alcohol years. I would play an acoustic show every now and then as my spirit kept fighting for my true path. In 2006 I began to demo songs in Garagband (recording program). I taught myself piano and bass to fill out the tracks and began uploading them to MySpace.

In 2008 I cleaned up my act and turned my life around. For the first time, started to see that the world was not working against me but with me...if I let it. I also started to begin to understand that life is not about competing with others but it's about seeing progress in yourself. The phrase "it's about progress, not perfection" stuck with me as I battled my addictions and realized my self-worth.

Then, in February 2009 some friends heard the demo tracks and offered to play if I ever wanted to perform with a full band. Within 3 months we were hitting some of Los Angeles' most historic music venues like the El Rey Theater, Whisky-A-Go-Go and The Viper Room. In September I met my co-producer Deyder Cintron (Glee) through a friend of my drummers. We had our first meeting at a studio to chat about what I wanted to do and immediately began recording my debut EP that night until 8am the next morning! My dream was manifesting hour by hour right before my eyes. 

I released my first single "Now I Only" in June of 2010 which lead to live on-air interview on Australia's JOY 94.9 FM. The full EP was released in February 2011 and received praise in The Advocate Magazine's "Hot Sheet" and several other international music columns and blogs as well as photography blogs praising the artwork. I performed several times a month throughout 2011 to promote my first collection of songs which included a dance remix of "Now I Only". The year was pretty amazingly textured with different kinds of shows from solo acoustic, full out rock band, and dance remix performances. 

In 2011 I found myself feeling limitless in the most healthy way. I've seen my dreams manifest day after day. I found that my path is uncharted and it is what I make it through dedication and honesty. I learned that when I bet on myself the potential is infinite. I feel like we all have our path and we possess more potential that we can even imagine. Our thoughts and actions are choices and those become the bricks of our path in life. 

Now in 2012, I look to use the platform I've been blessed with not only to share my stories and communicate emotions through music and art but also to activate a feeling of infinite possibility in the listener. "Heaven Help Me Now" will be the anchor track for this collection. The song is about taking responsibility for where your life is and realizing you always have the power to change what isn't working. Life has its hurdles and we all have our differences but I believe that our one common denominator is that we all want to be happy. And we can be if we choose to be.

With your support, I will be able to produce and record this next collection of songs and much more to share with the world. The first goal of $2,000 is for the base set up for an in-home recording studio to make the EP.

All funding beyond the initial goal will go towards necessary equipment for recording such as speakers, microphones, computer software, marketing and touring.

If we surpass the first goal, a NEW GOAL will be set and ADDITIONAL REWARDS will be announced! 

I am so grateful for the support I've been shown throughout my journey. I am so excited to record, perform and entertain with this new music. And just maybe I can also inspire you to look in-ward and see your potential to be great. 

Much Love, 

Dan