We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Daniel McGaw a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Daniel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I wrote my first song when i was 10 years old, but I was very much a soccer player growing up. Playing guitar and writing songs was something I did mostly privately until I was around 18. I was working as a bartender in a pub on The Isle of Jersey in The Channels Islands between France and England. There was a band on Sundays and they would let me play a few songs on their break.
After a while the Land lady gave me a regular spot on Wednesdays. The night was really successful, with a good crowd every week. That Wednesday gig was the beginning of a belief and realization that my music could make people feel good and foster community. My career is still really just an expansion of that idea.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a songwriter, musician, producer and sound engineer. I am currently touring the US as special guest to Vocal hall of fame inductees ‘Three Dog Night’
I own a recording Studio in Ojai CA called Northern Lad Lad Music.
I am originally from Manchester, England. Though I now live in California. I started singing in pubs in England. When I moved to America I became an amplified street performer. With Santa Monica as my home base i would tour the west coast playing streets, farmers markets, cafes bars and clubs.
I also spent some years in the midwest, in Kansas City. Where I would work 5-6 nights a week in the bars and clubs in the region. Between the west coast and midwest is where I got my 10.000 ours and then some. Writing and singing i songs, recording music is something I have just never tired of, its beautiful, endless learning journey and I feel very lucky to have such a relationship with something so special.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I have always been quite a stubborn dreamer. To do what I love is everything. it helps me be the man I need to be for my family. And joy is good for your health
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Singing in streets and bars, especially in the times I was solo, which was often, is very rarely anywhere near to an ideal environment. In the street, all kinds of people will walk by, and most of them will indeed, walk by. The key is to remain focused on sharing without being hurt or offended by being ignored. You are not there to please everybody, but you have to keep your head up and your heart open for the people who will like your song.
Contact Info:
- Website: dannymcgaw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannymcgaw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DannyMcGawofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/dannymcgaw
- Other: Linktr.ee/dannymcgaw
Image Credits
Images 1 and 4 Max Sharp Photography image 2 Dawn Rosa Image 2 Joe Cook