10 Quick Ones with JOEY DANGER – November 2018

According to a recent press release: “Award Winning New York City based musician, filmmaker, multimedia artist, and music producer Joey Danger has announced the release of his new 5 song EP titled Lust & Vulgarity. In addition, Joey also debuted his award winning music video/sci-fi fashion film for his single “Surrender” off of the EP.” We get Joey to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

I just released a new 5 song EP Lust and Vulgarity along with a film / music video I shot and directed for the single “Surrender.” It took me over 16 months to complete, due to the amount of visual effects required, but I’m really excited it’s finally out and response has been amazing. It was nominated for 5 awards including best music and won best visual effects at the La Jolla fashion Film Festival. This new record is very different from my previous music. I honestly don’t even know what kind of music to call it. After my last EP Alive I wasn’t interested in doing more of the same musically. I didn’t feel like that person anymore. Rather than rush new music out, I took time to refine myself as an artist and make something unique that I felt reflects who I am now. In a way Lust & Vulgarity is a concept album. I based it on where found myself after I moved to New York City. I was in a numb place emotionally and felt like I suddenly had access to everything I always wanted which led me down a rabbit hole of constant self indulgence.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I’ve always loved music. My father was a musician and toured with Arthur Conley in the 60’s. I loved hearing his stories about his adventures on the road.  Growing up I used to carry around a tape recorder with me everywhere and would record myself singing random songs I made up about god knows what. But when I was 11 years my old my cousin showed me Marilyn Manson and it changed my life. I was tall skinny and awkward so when I saw Manson I thought “He looks like me and he’s cool… I want to be like him!” His music opened the door for me to discover bands like Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins and Metallica. The night before my first day of middle school I remember standing in front of the mirror at a friends house holding his guitar and listening to “Man In The Box” by Alice In Chains wondering who I wanted to be once school started. I looked at myself and said “I’m going to be a rockstar” and never changed my mind.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Billy Idol, Alkaline Trio and The Beatles.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Trent Reznor. He was a huge influence on me growing up and inspired me to become a music producer. The opportunity to work with him on anything at any level would be a dream come true.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

That’s always a hard one. There are elements of Rock, Hiphop, Trap, EDM and Indie Pop. I think its easier to just call it Alternative Music.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Getting to express yourself. As a musician you can show people who you are, how you feel, what you’ve been through, and what you’re about in a way that’s hard to do with just words or images.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I’m a solo artist, but I party pretty hard by myself sometimes.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

I am also a Filmmaker. I love music and film equally but I guess if I wasn’t making music, I would focus all my attention on making films.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

With my past projects, I wish I would have understood how important marketing is. I believe that if I had, I would be much further along in my career today. I think when a lot of small town artists first start out, they have it in their head that if they just make a great song or video and put it online, somehow the world is magically going to know it exists or someone important is going to discover it and share it with the world. I’ve made a lot of music, videos, and films I am very proud of that never saw the light of day because I didn’t know how to get them exposure.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would kill to be in the studio witnessing the making of The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails.

JOEY DANGER LINKS:

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Category: Interviews