Husky-voiced troubadour Dan Mangan took a step into left field with 2011's Oh Fortune, which combined his folksy tunes with experimental elements, and now the Vancouverite is continuing to break the mould as he sets about writing new material.
In an email to fans, Mangan noted that he's currently enjoying an extended period of downtime at home, but he's also been working on music. This includes composing a film score with violinist Jesse Zubot (with whom he has worked extensively in the past) for the film Hector and the Search for Happiness. The Peter Chelsom-directed film is based on the 2002 French novel by François Lelord, and it stars Simon Pegg, Christopher Plummer, Toni Collette, Jean Reno, Stellan Skarsgård and Rosamund Pike.
Mangan wrote, "The script is really funny and touching and the soundtrack is an exciting and different kind of project to sink my teeth into."
Hector and the Search for Happiness is about a psychiatrist's search to find the secret of happiness, and it will be out in 2014, according to IMDB.
In other news, the songwriting is also working on tunes for a new album. Judging by his description, these songs represent another step away from the guitar-based straightforwardness of his early work.
"I used to compose songs front to back on my guitar in hotel rooms, then figure out what to do with them later," he explained. "These new songs seem to arrive in pieces and get glued together. It's been a very enjoyable and creative process to just spend time swimming in my gear with minimal agenda.
"This next album seems to feel very little like any of the previous ones."
The songwriter's upcoming tour schedule is relatively light, but he'll be playing some festival engagements overt the summer. See his schedule below.
Tour dates:
6/30 Fort McMurray, AB - Canada Rocks Festival
8/9 Squamish, BC - Squamish Valley Music Festival
8/23 Simcoe, ON - Gentlemen of the Road Stopover
8/30 Calgary, AB - X Fest
8/31 Edmonton, AB - Sonic Boom Festival
In an email to fans, Mangan noted that he's currently enjoying an extended period of downtime at home, but he's also been working on music. This includes composing a film score with violinist Jesse Zubot (with whom he has worked extensively in the past) for the film Hector and the Search for Happiness. The Peter Chelsom-directed film is based on the 2002 French novel by François Lelord, and it stars Simon Pegg, Christopher Plummer, Toni Collette, Jean Reno, Stellan Skarsgård and Rosamund Pike.
Mangan wrote, "The script is really funny and touching and the soundtrack is an exciting and different kind of project to sink my teeth into."
Hector and the Search for Happiness is about a psychiatrist's search to find the secret of happiness, and it will be out in 2014, according to IMDB.
In other news, the songwriting is also working on tunes for a new album. Judging by his description, these songs represent another step away from the guitar-based straightforwardness of his early work.
"I used to compose songs front to back on my guitar in hotel rooms, then figure out what to do with them later," he explained. "These new songs seem to arrive in pieces and get glued together. It's been a very enjoyable and creative process to just spend time swimming in my gear with minimal agenda.
"This next album seems to feel very little like any of the previous ones."
The songwriter's upcoming tour schedule is relatively light, but he'll be playing some festival engagements overt the summer. See his schedule below.
Tour dates:
6/30 Fort McMurray, AB - Canada Rocks Festival
8/9 Squamish, BC - Squamish Valley Music Festival
8/23 Simcoe, ON - Gentlemen of the Road Stopover
8/30 Calgary, AB - X Fest
8/31 Edmonton, AB - Sonic Boom Festival
