Following an impressive set on the Second Stage at Barn on the Farm, Daniel James’ intense style of performing is sure to win over a wide following in the near future…
We caught up Daniel just after his set at the festival.
You just came off stage at Barn on the Farm – how do you feel it went for you?
Good, really nice reaction! Lots of people came. I was the first act on the Second Stage, so yeah! A few people tweeted me saying they were coming from Holland – not to see just me but as part of the package! It’s nice to have people come and see you.
You’ve a new EP coming out – what can we expect from that?
Yeah, it’s hovering around the internet. It’s available but the date to release it is on the 20th of this month. It’s just a collection of songs that I felt suited really nicely as a four. There’s a lot of differences, I mean everything is written from the heart and with a mindset that this is the first EP I’m releasing. So people can expect a lot of different genres and things from the whole thing.
You toured with Hozier quite recently. Is there anything you learned from getting a sort of front row seat at looking at how he does things?
A lot! First of all, just the way he handles people as general afterwards. That’s really nice, he’s got time for everyone. Also the way he plays guitar. It’s simplistic but it’s so effective, and obviously his vocals are unreal.
Do you find supporting someone more pressurising in that you’re trying to attract some new fans, rather than just going out and doing your own headline gig?
Well I think, it’s me and a guitar so there’s something quite raw and nice about going to see someone sweat and really try to tell a story, and that’s what I did. I had a half an hour to persuade these people who probably didn’t know who I was, and it was a really lovely reaction from everywhere we went. You just know through social media, people were contacting me. I felt really good about it.
Yeah, ’cause I saw you support Nina Nesbitt ages ago in Dublin, and you really drew peoples’ attention…
Yeah, I’ve supported Nina, I’ve supported Sam Smith for a day at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and Saint Raymond as well. I’ve got really great artists – Nina is a lovely girl, really really sweet. Everyone is different as well, like the fanbases and people you talk to.
You’ve actually got your first headline show coming up soon in London…
Yeah, 17th. It’s close to selling out which is quite nice. It will be great! First headline show!
You moved from Northern Ireland over to London – was that specifically to pursue music full time?
Well, first of all, I was over to do an Arts course and specialise in Graphic Design. I used to paint a lot. And then I started writing songs at 19, and that was it. I haven’t really looked back since. The art thing – I noticed a lot of people were better and more focused. But with music, that’s who I am, I’m a songwriter and performer.
What other plans have you got for the Summer?
Gigwise, I’ve got my show coming up. There’s a few festivals in Germany I’m playing as well as other smaller festivals coming up. I mean, I’m realistic – I’m relatively unknown, so I just keep building the fanbase. The single is doing quite nicely, the video is cool, so yeah!
Thank you so much for that interview Daniel!
Thank you!
http://www.barnonthefarm.co.uk