[Video] MusicCast: Chris Daniel Live
HARLINGEN - No one would peg Chris Daniel for a veteran of the often bruising business of rock 'n' roll.
He's endured his share of career disappointments and band break-ups, but the petite Mercedes singer-songwriter remains warm, earnest and enthusiastic about music.
Daniel is the kind of guy who believes that a good song can change the world. He writes lyrics about puppy-dog crushes, finding true love and staring at the stars. He wears a Swatch, fluorescent-colored shirts and rhinestone-studded jackets.
The frontman for local metal band Warryor has a lot more in common with a 'tween bubblegum pop star than with his favorite rocker, Axl Rose, and that's OK by him.
"It's me. I like my style. I keep positive," Daniel, 24, said. "With music, sometimes people want some heavy metal or some extreme punk, or something really hard or extreme. That's fine, but I'm impressed by a good pop song."
It should please local punk and metal fans to hear that Daniel, an admitted Rihanna fan, does indeed rock. His band, Vally Lemons, rocked hard for almost ten years but split after too many major record label flirtations went nowhere. He currently fronts Warryor, a loud guitar-driven outfit that would make any Motley Crue fan's ears ring. Now, in between Warryor's many statewide gigs, Daniel is working on a more pop-oriented solo career.
Daniel's just-released self-produced solo album is a pastiche of unabashedly perky pop songs that match the singer-songwriter's flashy image. Many of Daniel's songs owe debts to some of his favorite bands, like Green Day and Good Charlotte, but it sounds like a parade of influences crept in to his recording sessions. "I Don't Want Diamonds" mirrors '50s doo-wop group The Skyliners, and "Let Me Be Yours" goes for Celine Dion sensitivity.
A number of Daniel's tracks and vocals recall David Bowie's most Stardusty moments, as do his live performances, which usually involve wardrobe changes (always something shiny) and dramatic poses.
"I go for the theatrical, especially on stage. It makes me feel free," Daniel said. "The songs are very personal. I'm a performer and I love to go on stage and really perform them for people."
Daniel wrote all 16 tracks on his self-titled album, and he played all the instruments, including drums, guitar, bass and keys. He recorded everything himself in a home studio, but the album boasts a surprisingly polished sound. When asked about his technical wizardry, Daniel quickly changes the subject to something he'd rather discuss - music.
Like a true music geek, he talks about hearing Guns 'N Roses for the first time ("I was like 'Wow'") or his love for Michael Jackson's "Leave Me Alone." Daniel runs down a list of favorite albums and artists - from The Beatles to Shania Twain - and he hopes that his songs will one day end up on someone else's favorites list.
Besides that, Daniel seems to have modest expectations for his new album. He's not awaiting any big record deals or instant stardom. Perhaps that's something 10 years in the the music biz has taught him.
"Just to have it played and have people hear it, that's all I want," Daniel said about the album. "And maybe someone will say good things about it ... they'll say it moved them to do something."
Listen to Chris Daniel's songs and find his show schedule at http://www.myspace.com/chrisdaniel. Daniel's album is available for purchase at http://www.musicfreedom.com/chrisdaniel.
