Too Opinionated Interview: Dan Smalley
Dan Smalley may just now be making a name for himself, but he sings with the voice of experience. The Alaska born military brat who came of age in Shreveport, Louisiana, has a way of making you believe what he’s singing. Smalley expresses a fresh take on Country music that knows tradition, inspired by the greats of the genre and infused with the swampy sounds of his roots, the Gospel of hardwood church pews and the impassioned delivery of Soul music. Artists like Merle Haggard, Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, Al Green, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and other legends provided inspiration, while the against-the-grain success of Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson drew him to Nashville. There, he worked with producer Keith Stegall on his Debut EP IF I’M BEING HONEST which came out in 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic. From there Smalley navigated in and out of Major Record deals and honed his direction after producing his first Full-Length Record THE STATE OF COUNTRY MUSIC, set to release Independently(Smallside Records) through Onerpm May 10, 2024. As a songwriter, artists like Ashley McBryde(Grammy Nominated album “Never Will”) Trace Adkins, Randall King, Jerrod Nieman, Makayla Lynn, Dillon Carmichael and others have included Smalley co-writes on their recent releases. Dan’s delivery on stage has landed him on bills alongside Willie Nelson, Allison Kraus, Turnpike Troubadours, Ashley McBryde, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Eli Young Band, Justin Moore, Dwight Yoakam, Randy Rogers Band, Ryan Bingham and a list of notable others both in the US and abroad. Smalley has played some of the greatest festivals in the world(Faster Horses, Country Fest, Frank Brown Songwriter, Nashville Nights International Songwriter Festival)and is making his “Buckle and Boots”(Manchester) Debut in May 2024 as well as his Heartland Fest(Denmark) Debut in June of 2024 after his most recent UK/DK Spring Tour through Glasgow, Belfast, England and Denmark. Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)
39m