Artist Interviews

Q&A: Dan Mangan

By | Published on Wednesday 22 September 2010

Dan Mangan

Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Mangan released his first album ‘Postcards & Daydreaming’ in 2005, before touring the world relentlessly for several years. The follow-up, ‘Nice, Nice, Very Nice’, received widespread critical acclaim, and also picked up a nomination in this year’s Polaris Music Prize. Since his latest album release he has since shared the stage with artists like Broken Social Scene and Julian Casablancas, and played the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury. He can even afford to bring a band along now. Ahead of his upcoming UK tour, and a show this week at the Reeperbahn Festival, we caught up with Dan to find out more.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
Poorly. Lots of covers of 90s grunge music.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?

Many things – travelling, my home town of Vancouver, Kurt Vonnegut, a handful of novels, long distance phone calls.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It can come from a variety of angles. Sometimes it’s a sheet full of lyrics that find a melody, other times it’s simply a guitar rhythm or something that eventually finds words. I edit relentlessly, and sometimes go crazy in the process of writing songs, but it’s something that gives me a whole lot of pleasure.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
I feel like it changes all the time.. Sometimes it’s the classics – Beatles, Dylan, Drake.. Other times it’s very contemporary – Bon Iver, Wilco, Radiohead, Arcade Fire. Lastly, I’d say I’m pushed in all kinds of directions by musical friends and peers. The best part of being a touring musician is meeting great creators everywhere you go.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Listen for the consonants, and the vowels.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
I tried to get over myself for this record – to be more lighthearted, to be more playful. I’m sensing myself getting more serious on the next album, but also more thoughtful of the quality of sound. Epicness is no longer a goal, but rather poignancy.

MORE>> www.danmanganmusic.com



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