Luke Sital-Singh
It looks as if the setup for a joke. Two unrelated ex-pats from the UK transfer to Los Angeles. Each are singer-songwriters. One writes happier songs, the opposite tends towards the darkish aspect. They discover one another within the UK, and later each transfer to Los Angeles. Dan wrote his music Keep in L.A. previous to shifting to California, Luke wrote his music California after he arrange in Los Angeles.
Dan Croll
One in all their first post-Covid actions was to set off on a small tour of the Western United States. Neither of them had performed stay with any frequency since March of 2020. Their first present of this tour was on the Soda Bar in San Diego, CA. I used to be there and rapidly observed that on an odd weeknight there was crowd who was there for them.
Their present was intimate. Every man performed his set on a naked stage with a keyboard they every shared, balancing on the keyboard cowl as a set of types as they’d forgotten to carry a stool. They each introduced their guitars and every of them was fluent with their devices. I noticed that each males shared related vocal vary, intonation and guitar taking part in ability. Dan later categorized their songs as “Brits overseas who share a love of Americana.”
Dan opened with a set which moderately upbeat. Luke then performed a extra downbeat assortment of songs. In actual fact, Luke repeated stated throughout his set his songs “have been miserable, whereas Dan’s have been completely happy.” He balances the heaviness of his songs by sharing extra upbeat patter with the gang.
Luke writes in an instinctual style, the place the music all comes out at one sitting, or it’s deserted. Dan goes the other approach and drags out the method of songwriting.
Traditionally, Dan would tour with a band, however this tour was intentionally low key. It was actually, Dan and Luke sharing a automobile, a room and a few of their tools. It allowed them to do a small step again into touring with out a number of financial danger. Every of them has songs which they play with regularity as a result of they’ve achieved traction with their followers. For Dan these songs are: From Nowhere, Praise Your Soul, and Dwelling. For Luke the songs are Killing Me, Fail For You and Name Me When You Land.
Luke has an album popping out later this yr and is at present scheduled to open for Passenger’s tour later this yr. He’s planning to take a full band on tour with him. This will likely be his first tour with a band. Dan goes again into the studio in April to work on his personal new album. He has typically performed with a band backing him. It’s very costly to have a band on the highway. Thus far, Dan has solely made cash from one stay present with a band in tow.
I spoke with each Dan and Luke who have been holed up in a motel simply outdoors of Seattle as they have been wrapping up their tour. It’s pay attention. The hyperlinks under are for the podcast in both video or audio format.
In lately during which excursions are constructed as a lot concerning the visible results because the songs being performed, being in a room with musicians who’re effective tuning their craft and relying solely upon their musical presents is a particular expertise. Each Dan Croll and Luke Sital-Singh are doing this old style – they write the songs, they put their guitars within the automobile, and so they go play someplace to individuals who anticipate nothing greater than to listen to them sing and play. It’s definitely enjoyable to go to an enormous present the place the visuals dazzle and the sound techniques overwhelms. However, there’s a sure purity when there may be nothing however expertise on show. That’s what I noticed on the Soda Bar – two males who every, in flip, stood earlier than a crowd with nothing to supply however their songs and their abilities. What they acquired in return was love. That’s the facility of stay music. Manufacturing values are a enjoyable add on, like sparklers on a dessert. However, the sparklers’ flame brings hole pleasure if the desert tastes like sand. Dwell music is the refuge of sincere leisure. The one time the viewers ought to really feel the sandman enter is when Metallica performs. In any other case, like with Dan and Luke, we go to be of the second, respect the sound, the gang and the regular hand of the performer who leads us by means of the evening.