Dan Patlansky continues to expand the audience for his roots-based songs
When and where did your love for music originate?
Dan Patlansky My love for music and the guitar in particular appeared in my life from early on, around seven years of age. I grew up in a house where music was played almost constantly in the lounge, the car and on the outside patio. In my opinion, my parents always listened to first-class music and I couldn’t have asked for a better musical upbringing if I tried. Most of what I grew up with was guitar-based roots music, so playing the guitar later on in my life made perfect sense.
Can you recall when you learnt to master the electric guitar? Was it self-taught or were there lessons involved?
I have never had that feeling of mastering anything on the guitar. It seems to be an endless journey where there’s always something to improve on and get better at. I did feel I started finding a firmer footing on the instrument when I was about 18 years old. I felt I could confidently improvise on most forms of music and that was a fantastic experience. But the learning curve has never stopped and never will.
Why specifically the blues?
I gravitated toward the blues for two reasons. The first was that it was a massive part of what I was brought up listening to and it felt like the most natural form of music to play because I felt like I knew it so well already. The second reason is because the blues is such a simple form of music and is relatively easy to play, but incredibly difficult to make sound good and convincing. That’s what keeps one hooked on the blues for life. An added bonus is that the blues is an improviser’s dream and so much can be said over the simple tried-and-tested chord progressions.
What is your songwriting process?
The songwriting process normally begins organically when I’m not trying to write anything. One tends to stumble on great ideas, chord progression, riffs and melodies by accident when just messing around on the guitar. I record most of these ideas and re-listen to them when we start writing for a new album. I try to expand on the ideas and eventually bring them to a songwriting session where I can bounce them off my co-writers. It’s always better having like-minded people who share a common direction for the songs to add to and subtract from the material.
Who inspires you musically?
I’m inspired by a whole host of artists but, as you can imagine, mostly guitar players. In that realm, I look up to players like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Albert King, Johnny Hiland, Josh Smith and so many more. Vocally and songwriting-wise, I’m inspired by completely different artists. I feel inspiration is everything and so important for growth. I tend to play, write and sing my best when highly inspired.
It’s been a decade since you opened for Bruce Springsteen at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg – what an amazing privilege!
It certainly was an amazing honour to have been on a show with Bruce Springsteen. That’s the biggest audience I’ve ever played for to date. It was a nerve-racking day for sure but, at the same time, incredibly exciting. I remember being nervous just before we went on and settling into everything after the first song. The set felt far easier from that point and I was happy with the audience’s reaction. We gained a lot of new fans that day, which I’m grateful for. I got to meet Bruce briefly and he is a fantastic man.
You have toured globally. Is there a favourite destination?
My favourite destination changes all the time. For me, it’s not about the city you’re in, but how the audience reacts. The feedback of the crowd can make or break a live show and is almost the number-one factor in deciding how a live show turns out. On the last tour, Budapest was wonderful.
How has your music been received globally?
I am blessed to say very well within the blues world. It’s not an easy space to operate in because of the fierce talent out there and the amount of blues albums being released every year. I’m not quite sure how, but my music seemed to cut through a bit of the noise and get noticed globally. That opened a lot of doors internationally for live touring and festivals, but it took me years of grinding away at it to get anywhere close to that point. In many senses I’m still grinding away at it, because there is still so much I want to achieve. Having the international doors open is a key ingredient to achieving those goals.
Tell us about Movin’ On, your album released last year.
Movin’ On is a back-to-my-roots collection and the type of compilation I most enjoy making. It is my most real and raw offering to date and showcases what the band and I sound like live. That was the main goal! I didn’t want an over-produced album that sounded vastly different from studio to the live stage. There are very few takes on all the instruments and almost zero editing in post. We kept the arrangements as close to the live stage as possible and recorded everything in a way that gave the album that honest feeling.
Text | Heléne Ramackers
Photography | Blyde Smit
For more information, go to danpatlansky.com.
