Daniel Robinson Guesswork Interview

Daniel Robinson Guesswork Interview

Daniel Robinson was born. Currently, he is alive. One day, he will be dead.

Hello, Traveller. My name is Daniel. I am a young humanoid, dwelling in Buffalo, NY. On a mission to conquer and destroy apathy, I craft songs using the strings of the very organ in my chest. I believe the voice can be likened to a muscle. The more you work it, the stronger it can become. I've been honing my abilities since I was very small, being swirled around by my mother, in bare feet, dancing on the kitchen floor to Dave Matthews.

I continued to sing along to the tune of others, until I uncovered a song of my own. I was unable to stop. In the beginning, I struggled to form my immense thoughts into small melodic stanza, but it has since become effortless. I can be in the midst of a World of Warcraft raid, munching on some sugary cereal, or driving down a dimly lit highway when I am seized with inspiration. The blips and bleeps of my music speak as I mesh them with my own words, the same ones that work their way into your ears.

I spent a vast amount of time intensifying my focus on music. That's when I realised that there was nothing else. I was manic, writing and composing melodies as often as I took a breath. Humming along with a ukulele, regardless of the situation, appropriate or not, garnering strange looks from those around me. I procured a tiny synthesiser, a tambourine, a shoddy microphone, grabbed the ukulele, and started to piece together all that was alive in my head with Garageband.

I have morphed my sound many times, drifting from the darkest metal to folky woodland acoustics, but I have found my warmth and peace within the electronics you hearing today.

In 2011, I released an critically-acclaimed EP, "North" (featuring "Heroes In The Sky", and "History Maker"), which won me first prize in the Electronic music category of The John Lennon Songwriting competition for "The Last Night", and a spot on Music Connection's Top 25 new music critiques of 2012.

Packed with a wild energy, armed with brilliant light, and loaded with infinite momentum; I'm ready to strike.
Bang.

Interview with Daniel Robinson

Question: How would you describe your new EP Guesswork?

Daniel Robinson: It's an unusual brand of electronic pop. It's intelligent, beautiful, and knows exactly what it wants to say. It's gritty and minimal, but it's got these really glistening dance moments as well. It works very hard to show every side of itself, and I believe that it accomplishes all it wants very well.


Question: Can you tell us about the single, Running With The Wolves?

Daniel Robinson: 'Wolves" was very sonically inspired by Scandinavian dance pop. I was listening to a lot of Röyksopp and Robyn. I wrote it about being around somebody who's making these decisions, that impact you in a negative way, for their personal gain. It's about running away from that into the arms of happiness. It's the best thing I've ever done. There's a juxtaposition of light four-on-the-floor production with the darkness in the songwriting. I'm always into that sort of thing.

Question: Do you write your own songs? What's your inspiration?

Daniel Robinson: I do! Mostly, I'm writing about the intricate interpersonal relationships I have. I drew from the darker side of those for GUESSWORK. It's all about not having control over the way things are with other people, coming to terms, and being okay with the decisions you have to make when everything is turning black.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Daniel Robinson: I listen to a ton of Now, Now, Crystal Castles, Björk, LIGHTS. My buddy Nick has this band, The Breathing Tree, they're all super talented guys, they've been a big support to me, and I can't stop listening. Lana Del Rey is also really great; I love the way her songs ooze with feeling and romanticism.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Daniel Robinson: I'm going to play my FACE off. Come see!


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Daniel Robinson: Only every single day of my life. I want to give in all the time, but I don't really have a choice anymore. Music is mind control.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?
Daniel Robinson: I've been a studio guy since I was 16. I'm bored, and I'm way more interested in the live side of it all. Things can get a lot heavier sounding. It's loud, and I'm in love with that.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Daniel Robinson: I saw LIGHTS for the first time when I was fourteen, and I remember the exact moment that I looked at her and said, "This is what I want to do." It was the scariest, most amazing turning point for me. Euphoric relief!


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Daniel Robinson: Other people have been the biggest danger to me. They will do absolutely anything to stop you. Sometimes it comes from a loving place, and sometimes it's from somewhere envious, or hateful. BUT, when people tell me I should stop, or "you don't have the talent to do this", I just hiss and walk the other way.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Daniel Robinson: When I'm in the studio, I wake up very early (if I ever sleep in the first place) and make this long, awful drive to Toronto. I spend hours working on production or vocals, and then I grab pizza and drive back in rush hour traffic listening to what I've done. When I've got a show coming, I just do what anyone else does, I suppose! Play and play and feverishly battle Ableton Live and play and play and play and…


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Daniel Robinson: Honing these skills. I feel that I've developed so much since I started to put things out for people's ears. Learning and listening has been the greatest part.

Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Daniel Robinson: LIGHTS! (You promised me that one time at the ex! Let's go!)


Question: Do you have a website fans can visit?

Daniel Robinson: www.iamdanielrobinson.com


Question: What message would you like your music to say to your fans?

Daniel Robinson: If you're pregnant, eat spicy food. Your baby will become a fire mage. Yes, I am a doctor.


Interview by Brooke Hunter