Daniel Burton is the singer/guitarist in Bloomington, IN's Early Day Miners. Their latest album, Let Us Garlands Bring is out now on Secretly Canadian.
Current fixations:
The new Windsor for the Derby album, The Emotional Rescue, is worth obsessing over. It's a beautiful album. I recently mixed On Fillmore, which is Darin Gray of Dazzling Killmen fame and Glenn Kotche of Wilco doing a pretty good job of sounding nothing like either of those bands. Stand up bass and percussion performed as if it were emanating from the depths of a South Pacific rainforest.
Mind-altering work of art:
Paris, Texas has always been a heavy influence on our music. Ry Cooder and Wim Wenders at their finest hour.
Most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
A couple of years ago we played the VPRO Crossing Borders festival in Amsterdam. The show was pretty rough around the edges (tuning problems, my amp blew up) but we still managed to get the music across I think (hope). We had a great time all in all.
What has been your career high and low?
The all expenses trip / show to the Netherlands would have to be our high point. I think maybe playing in New Orleans (my favourite city) and having no one come out was one of our lowest career points.
What should everyone shut up about?
It would be nice to see rock journalism stop with the current classification chart that all writers feel the need to adhere to (post-rock, slow-core, hardcore, etc). Fifteen years ago it didn't exist, it was all rock and somehow we all managed to get along.
I would drop everything to play a benefit for:
Locally programmed, independent, community driven radio stations.
What trait do you like and dislike most about yourself?
I feel like my reasons for existing in the music community are honest. I want to create music that others might get something from and that's a good feeling.
I don't like my depressive nature. I lack organisation and am very inefficient.
What would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed, and have you?
I've never kicked anyone out of a band. Fortunately we're not really faced with that problem with Early Day Miners mostly because we were all friends before we formed the band. I don't think any of us have the ability to kick another out anyway. I hope to never be put in a position where I would kick someone out of my bed.
When I think of Canada I think:
Hot talent / Cold weather.
What is your vital daily ritual?
Coffee, in summer, iced coffee.
How do you spoil yourself?
I jump on a plane and visit my dad in gulf shores, Al. I try to spend some time in New Orleans while I'm down there.
What was your most memorable day job?
Joe (Early Day Miners guitarist) and I both worked for a while doing tech support for a local internet provider. We really, really hated it. I guess we'd take up to 120 calls a day. Most of the customers were very unhappy with their service so it felt like we were paid to be yelled at. We handled all types of situations, ranging from unplugged monitors to this one guy who thought his CD ROM drive was a cup holder.
If I wasn't playing music I would be:
Probably trying to be a painter or a filmmaker. It's a good thing I've got music huh?
What is your greatest fear?
That no one is listening.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
To numb the minds of the righteous.
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Two records: Sade Lovers Rock and Kylie Minogue Fever.
Music and sex: Is there a difference? Why?
No if you're listening to Prince. Yes if your listening to Early Day Miners. EDM does not equate sexy. Does not compute.
Strangest brush with celebrity:
I have two friends that have both almost knocked David Byrne down by accident. Two separate occasions, one in NYC, the other in Austin, TX. They both noted that he now has grey hair.
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
David Lynch. I'd take him to Frisch's for milkshakes.
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
Getting married.
Current fixations:
The new Windsor for the Derby album, The Emotional Rescue, is worth obsessing over. It's a beautiful album. I recently mixed On Fillmore, which is Darin Gray of Dazzling Killmen fame and Glenn Kotche of Wilco doing a pretty good job of sounding nothing like either of those bands. Stand up bass and percussion performed as if it were emanating from the depths of a South Pacific rainforest.
Mind-altering work of art:
Paris, Texas has always been a heavy influence on our music. Ry Cooder and Wim Wenders at their finest hour.
Most memorable or inspirational gig and why?
A couple of years ago we played the VPRO Crossing Borders festival in Amsterdam. The show was pretty rough around the edges (tuning problems, my amp blew up) but we still managed to get the music across I think (hope). We had a great time all in all.
What has been your career high and low?
The all expenses trip / show to the Netherlands would have to be our high point. I think maybe playing in New Orleans (my favourite city) and having no one come out was one of our lowest career points.
What should everyone shut up about?
It would be nice to see rock journalism stop with the current classification chart that all writers feel the need to adhere to (post-rock, slow-core, hardcore, etc). Fifteen years ago it didn't exist, it was all rock and somehow we all managed to get along.
I would drop everything to play a benefit for:
Locally programmed, independent, community driven radio stations.
What trait do you like and dislike most about yourself?
I feel like my reasons for existing in the music community are honest. I want to create music that others might get something from and that's a good feeling.
I don't like my depressive nature. I lack organisation and am very inefficient.
What would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed, and have you?
I've never kicked anyone out of a band. Fortunately we're not really faced with that problem with Early Day Miners mostly because we were all friends before we formed the band. I don't think any of us have the ability to kick another out anyway. I hope to never be put in a position where I would kick someone out of my bed.
When I think of Canada I think:
Hot talent / Cold weather.
What is your vital daily ritual?
Coffee, in summer, iced coffee.
How do you spoil yourself?
I jump on a plane and visit my dad in gulf shores, Al. I try to spend some time in New Orleans while I'm down there.
What was your most memorable day job?
Joe (Early Day Miners guitarist) and I both worked for a while doing tech support for a local internet provider. We really, really hated it. I guess we'd take up to 120 calls a day. Most of the customers were very unhappy with their service so it felt like we were paid to be yelled at. We handled all types of situations, ranging from unplugged monitors to this one guy who thought his CD ROM drive was a cup holder.
If I wasn't playing music I would be:
Probably trying to be a painter or a filmmaker. It's a good thing I've got music huh?
What is your greatest fear?
That no one is listening.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
To numb the minds of the righteous.
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Two records: Sade Lovers Rock and Kylie Minogue Fever.
Music and sex: Is there a difference? Why?
No if you're listening to Prince. Yes if your listening to Early Day Miners. EDM does not equate sexy. Does not compute.
Strangest brush with celebrity:
I have two friends that have both almost knocked David Byrne down by accident. Two separate occasions, one in NYC, the other in Austin, TX. They both noted that he now has grey hair.
Who would be your ideal dinner guest, living or dead, and what would you serve them?
David Lynch. I'd take him to Frisch's for milkshakes.
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
Getting married.