British singer/songwriter Dan Croll has been hustling since his From Nowhere EP released in September last year. From a Time Magazine feature where he was dubbed Liverpool’s new golden boy to playing the Austin festival SXSW, Croll’s ode to the lighthearted melodies of Paul Simon combined with more eccentric chorus lines has pushed him into the limelight. No artist’s cross over the pond into the American music scene is easy (unless you are a slew of teen heart throbs), but Croll may win his audience over with the radiating good-vibe beats that are sure to be stuck in your head after a few listens. We decided to ask the UK native about his karaoke go-to and what he writes about when he’s not working on his next music venture.
1. What do you like to write about when you aren’t writing songs?
Stories I hear from friends or family, stuff that may later inspire a song. Yesterday my mate told me he’s going to do a drug test on behalf of a medical company, and one of the side effects is that it turns tears, urine and other bodily fluids fluorescent orange. I’d like to write a song about that one day.
2. The UK is loving the EP. How has the response been state-side?
The response has been fantastic, that first USA tour in March couldn’t have gone any better, and I’m really looking forward to heading back out in June!
3. What do you do when you are not making music?
Run, Skateboard, Cycle, Eat, Drink, and do Karaoke.
4. If you have a go-to karaoke song, what is it?
What a coincidence? Its definitely got to be Aha – “Take on me.”
5. What has been your favorite performance, and why?
Glasslands, New York. We sold out the place and performed a karaoke version of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” as an encore, what could top that? (Apart from maybe doing a karaoke encore of Aha – “Take on me”.
Check out Croll’s head-bob worthy single “From Nowhere” below, and make sure to catch his next appearance in LA at the Troubadour on June 28th.