Daniel Evans is not the typical X Factor contestant; in fact, when he made it to the live finals in 2008 he brought something different to the show. Of course, The X Factor’s audience is not “older than the mainstream.” As he admits, “my public is older, between 35 and 60!” and let’s face it, it’s mostly the fifteen year olds that vote on the TV show. X Factor was a great platform for Daniel, who released his debut album nearly a year after the show ended, “It took nine months, so it had become my baby, I guess.”
No Easy Way, the album’s name, actually describes his journey in the music industry. After recording his album and trying to promote it, he found that most radio stations and TV programs did not accept to play it “This was something I never expected and a lesson for any independent artists out there. It was a bit of a shock to be honest.” The truth is that despite the lack of airplay and promotion, No Easy Way has had an excellent critic response since its release. I caught up with Daniel and he told me about his journey since leaving The X Factor and what music truly means to him.
After The X Factor, you decided to release your album No Easy Way independently, and the critic response was really good. How did that feel?
It was amazing really. To finally have the CD in my hand with the inlay’s all done and to be able to say this was mine, not the record labels, not the management companies but completely mine. I made the arrangements, chose the songs, put the tracks together, basically every breath, note and word was my choice with the help of a young but amazing producer, Richard James Roberts. I could have no excuses if people didn’t like it, the buck stops with me!
Did you expect the really good reviews it got?
I didn’t expect the CD to get such a good response; after all, most X Factor acts go the commercial route with poppy, upbeat tracks. I knew this was never going to be a mainstream commercial album, and that was never my intention. I wanted to do an album with music I loved and that I had grown up with, I guess a kind of soundtrack to my life with my own arrangements. Most importantly I wanted it to have a real feel to it. We don’t seem to get that kind of stuff these days (I sound like my mum now!), but we don’t seem to have big ballads anymore in the charts, its either electro-pop/r&b or guitar driven bands. I wanted to use my life experiences and put them into this album and try and use real musicians wherever I can. And no Autotune! It’s become an epidemic and should never replace real vocal ability (which is unfortunately why a lot of singers now use it).
There was one well known website that gave it one star out of 5. I can only guess the reviewer must have been 15 or something. I know its not the best album in the world, its not massively commercial and does not have a single dance track but its real, its emotional and I have had many many messages from people that can relate to these songs, who have been inspired and moved by these songs. The good reviews far outweigh the bad. I believe you don’t just hear music, you feel it, and I think we have achieved that and more with this album and its something I am proud of.
You said that radio stations would not play an X Factor contestant that was not signed to a major label; do you think that is still true?
There I was, all excited and proud of this CD I had just spent 9 months making with my own money… and the first radio station I went to asked me what record label I was with, that was the first question. I told them it’s my producers, a completely independent label. I was told they only deal with major labels, not Indies. I asked why and I was told if they do this for one then every independent musician in the country will expect to get played. I sent the CD anyway but not one single station ever came back to me. Here I had this album that I felt so many people would love and could relate to and I could not even get it heard. Radio airtime is precious and the big labels have a lot of control and take most of the airtime slots, plus station managers are under pressure to keep the big labels/artists happy. I’m eternally grateful for every station that risked the wrath of station managers or record labels and played it even though it was independent.
I had the same problem with GMTV, This Morning and other shows that I was on when I came off the XFactor. They all said come back to us when you do your album. A year later, they said I was not known enough to get on the show. ”If the album does well then get back to us”. It was tough to accept. I knew my buying public was older than the mainstream, between 35 and 60! My problem was the older bracket was not big Facebook or Myspace users. The only way to get to that demographic was via radio and TV.
How are the sales going?
Luckily through the magic of the Internet, downloads are selling steadily in Asia and it’s a market I did not even push yet. I continue to promote the downloads worldwide via iTunes and other similar sites and we are lucky we still get a steady stream of sales every month.
I still think there is a massive older audience in the UK that don’t Facebook or download who would love this album but have no idea this album exists but I still spend an hour or more a day keeping fans on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace up to date and I think its good to stay in touch with your fanbase directly.
Do you write your own music?
I love writing music. Maybe even more than performing! I only wrote one small track on the album, an interlude track between two emotional songs. I had about 12 written at the time but thought it would be presumptuous to put these on there. I thought if I did my own versions of some well-known covers, plus a couple from the TV show people would connect straight away. I then got criticised for just doing a covers album! I didn’t see it like that as some of the versions were very different. In retrospect maybe I should have put a few more or my own, but you live and learn, again!
Tell us about the creative process of your music.
I love sitting at the keys and starting the raw track with just the piano…
I’ll string some chords together then come up with a tune and usually just sing off the top of my head whatever I’m feeling at the time. If you are lucky something comes up that just grabs you and before you know it you have this idea and the excitement of what may-be keeps you coming back. I don’t know any other thing that can use so many hours and you don’t even notice it.
I have also been approached about doing some more demos for some other artists. Its something I would hope to do a lot more of.
What does music mean to you?
Music has been the soundtrack to my life. I can hear a song and it takes me back to a time and place or an emotion. Happy times, sad times, good times.
Some songs have helped me through some hard times. To where you are which I sang on the X Factor sing off and I put on the album. This song has twice accompanied me through some really tough times, the last time when my wife passed away. Some people call them sad songs, I call them inspirational. Yes they are emotional but they are also living proof that we are not alone in these emotions we feel.
For me, music is like an invisible friend, girlfriend even. She’s amazing, supports you, helps you, sings to you, makes you laugh, can make you cry, sometimes drives you mad but is always there for you no matter what. Ok she can’t make the tea but hey, you can’t have everything! Music is like air, couldn’t survive without it…
What makes you different to the rest of artists out there?
I try as much as finances will allow to keep it real. By this I mean use real musicians wherever possible. No autotune, no unnecessary effects. Sometimes my best gigs are just when I do a set with me and the piano. No drums, bass, effects, just plain old school acoustic.
What makes me different is I will never put financial gain over my musical integrity. I’ve done gigs for free before so people can hear what I’m about and to try and promote real music, acoustic sessions, old school values. X Factor was a great experience and great for publicity, but there was only 1 week where I sang a song I really wanted to sing. Its hard to put “you” across when you don’t even choose your songs.
Who are your biggest influences when it comes to making music? Who do you look up to?
From a true music point of view, big influence in early life had to be, (don’t laugh) Barry Manilow. From his first release, Mandy, this geeky looking guy managed to sell so many records. Can you imagine him entering the music scene today? Record labels would take one look and kick him out the back door. He showed that no matter what you looked like, if you sang from the heart, people would listen. Plus musically he was a genius, still is today. His love songs are timeless; even Could it be Magic, covered by Take That for a fast version, but still genius musically still passes the test of time.
Lionel Richies’ early writing was genius. Other singers are mainly old school, Wilson Pickett, Otis Reading, Aretha Franklin, Stevie, from a time when vocals were prominent and instruments were real! More recently Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Rascall Flatts, tons more.
What music could we find on your ipod right now?
At the moment, I’ve got a lot or Rascall Flatts, Lifehouse, Tenacious D, Josh Groban, 30 Seconds to Mars, Michael McDonald, Michael Buble, Luther, Alicia Keys, El Debarge, Bruno Mars, Stevie, Ray Charles...
If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?
David Foster, Micheal Buble, Josh Groban. But I would work with anyone I have previously listed above and be grateful for the chance.
What lies in the future for Daniel Evans?
The future is uncertain to be honest. I would love to do an album of original material but after previous experience I would be a fool to do that without the backing of a semi-major label. And everyone knows in this business, all X Factor finalists that don’t get signed can vanish into obscurity and many have over the years. My plan is to keep singing and keep bringing my kind of heartfelt music to audiences wherever, whenever I can and so far the response has been amazing. I guess people have an expectation after watching the show and are pleasantly surprised to hear what I do now and that is great to get that feedback.
I’m not into publicity for the sake of it, no dreams of celebrity, big houses or fast cars. Just want to pay my bills each month and do what I love to do, be that singing, song writing or producing. If my music, in whatever form keeps paying my mortgage then I’ll be happy. If it stops, I’ll have to get a real job! I’m lucky for now it is still my living. If that ends and it becomes just a hobby, I can be grateful for some amazing experiences over the past few years!
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