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| New Band Up North 18: Dan Croll | New Band Up North 18: Dan Croll |
| (4 months later) | |
| Combining electronic music with gorgeous folk melodies, this multi-instrumentalist, who could have played rugby for his country, is creating delightfully chilled yet upbeat music sitting somewhere between Beirut and Jens Lekman. | Combining electronic music with gorgeous folk melodies, this multi-instrumentalist, who could have played rugby for his country, is creating delightfully chilled yet upbeat music sitting somewhere between Beirut and Jens Lekman. |
| Dan Croll was on his way to becoming a top rugby player when at 17 years old he had a shin-on-shin collision during a game. His hopes of ever playing for England were as shattered as much as his leg was. Broken and in a cast from his groin right down to his toes for a whole year, he was "pretty devastated at the time." But looking back on it now he says it gave him time to reflect on everything and think twice about playing again: | Dan Croll was on his way to becoming a top rugby player when at 17 years old he had a shin-on-shin collision during a game. His hopes of ever playing for England were as shattered as much as his leg was. Broken and in a cast from his groin right down to his toes for a whole year, he was "pretty devastated at the time." But looking back on it now he says it gave him time to reflect on everything and think twice about playing again: |
| It went from being fun to really putting my body on the line. Now I'm glad it happened because I really got into my music. | It went from being fun to really putting my body on the line. Now I'm glad it happened because I really got into my music. |
| Here are some examples: Spending most of his weekends in Liverpool while growing up, Croll had heard of the city's Institute for Performing Arts, and since his leg had made him rethink his future, he thought "it seemed like the place for me." Doing a music degree there and being in what he calls "the golden year" of students, it seemed like fate. Cheesy I know, but Croll already had a musical family background and could play the guitar, bass, piano, drums and the trumpet, so breaking his leg really was great timing. Going to LIPA gave him a chance to feel confident in the music he was making and to discover new techniques, influences and sounds. He also met the school's founder, Sir Paul McCartney. So, was that a big deal? | Here are some examples: Spending most of his weekends in Liverpool while growing up, Croll had heard of the city's Institute for Performing Arts, and since his leg had made him rethink his future, he thought "it seemed like the place for me." Doing a music degree there and being in what he calls "the golden year" of students, it seemed like fate. Cheesy I know, but Croll already had a musical family background and could play the guitar, bass, piano, drums and the trumpet, so breaking his leg really was great timing. Going to LIPA gave him a chance to feel confident in the music he was making and to discover new techniques, influences and sounds. He also met the school's founder, Sir Paul McCartney. So, was that a big deal? |
| It was great but it didn't blow my mind. Everyone's a bit shocked when I say that. They're like 'oh my god! You met Paul McCartney!'" Having a one-to-one with him was of course pretty amazing but it felt so normal because of his links to LIPA. I played a few of my songs to him and he started singing along with me and suggesting things I hadn't thought of, which was cool. He said 'groovy' a lot too! | It was great but it didn't blow my mind. Everyone's a bit shocked when I say that. They're like 'oh my god! You met Paul McCartney!'" Having a one-to-one with him was of course pretty amazing but it felt so normal because of his links to LIPA. I played a few of my songs to him and he started singing along with me and suggesting things I hadn't thought of, which was cool. He said 'groovy' a lot too! |
| Not a massive fan of The Beatles | Not a massive fan of The Beatles |
| Although loving the experience with McCartney and making music in Liverpool, Croll doesn't shy away from the fact that he's not a massive fan of The Beatles. He picks out Paul Simon, Brian Wilson and Bert Bacharach as his biggest influences instead. He's also into new band Tame Impala for their revival of the psychedelic 60s sound. | Although loving the experience with McCartney and making music in Liverpool, Croll doesn't shy away from the fact that he's not a massive fan of The Beatles. He picks out Paul Simon, Brian Wilson and Bert Bacharach as his biggest influences instead. He's also into new band Tame Impala for their revival of the psychedelic 60s sound. |
| That psychedelic energy comes across in Croll's music too. His single From Nowhere, which has got airplay from pretty much everyone, is full of vibrant, uplifting electronic sounds. Synths, guitars and drumbeats weave intricately into Croll's stunning harmonies. The song is full of catchy riffs too. It's not totally electronic though, as Croll throws in elements of folk here and there. He explains his sound as being a balance between "acoustic and digital." | That psychedelic energy comes across in Croll's music too. His single From Nowhere, which has got airplay from pretty much everyone, is full of vibrant, uplifting electronic sounds. Synths, guitars and drumbeats weave intricately into Croll's stunning harmonies. The song is full of catchy riffs too. It's not totally electronic though, as Croll throws in elements of folk here and there. He explains his sound as being a balance between "acoustic and digital." |
| Although rugby didn't continue, he keeps himself fit by running around what he calls his "musical playground" in an old abandoned primary school gym in Toxteth. It's become an open space studio and "it's the ideal place to capture my sound." After finding it hard to get it spot on in a typical studio, Croll says he now gets a buzz from running from one instrument to the next in his unique gym set up. | Although rugby didn't continue, he keeps himself fit by running around what he calls his "musical playground" in an old abandoned primary school gym in Toxteth. It's become an open space studio and "it's the ideal place to capture my sound." After finding it hard to get it spot on in a typical studio, Croll says he now gets a buzz from running from one instrument to the next in his unique gym set up. |
| On a few songs he does 'get by with a little help from [his] friends' (I had to, sorry) but typically he records all the instruments himself. He loves being the architecture to each and every layer that makes up his sound. | On a few songs he does 'get by with a little help from [his] friends' (I had to, sorry) but typically he records all the instruments himself. He loves being the architecture to each and every layer that makes up his sound. |
| I think there's definitely something about knowing the basics of an instrument, like the drums, where you discover a certain beat for the first time. It can spark off an idea or a new sound. | I think there's definitely something about knowing the basics of an instrument, like the drums, where you discover a certain beat for the first time. It can spark off an idea or a new sound. |
When I asked Croll what his favourite instrument was I surprised to hear him say the drums. But "finding the right groove is very important... my music is groove lead." So, McCartney's "groovy" comment had more influence than Croll thought it ever would, perhaps? Croll tells me his next single is very much about the drumbeat and he always looks forward to sitting back on the drums at the end of the recording process to finish off a song. | When I asked Croll what his favourite instrument was I surprised to hear him say the drums. But "finding the right groove is very important... my music is groove lead." So, McCartney's "groovy" comment had more influence than Croll thought it ever would, perhaps? Croll tells me his next single is very much about the drumbeat and he always looks forward to sitting back on the drums at the end of the recording process to finish off a song. |
| Having announced last week he'll be playing Liverpool's Sound City, he's also off to America for a big tour this month, playing alongside Glaswegian synthpop trio CHVRCHES and Little Green Cars, along the way. He's ending up at SXSW too, which is "mind-blowing" to the modest boy from Stoke-On-Trent. | Having announced last week he'll be playing Liverpool's Sound City, he's also off to America for a big tour this month, playing alongside Glaswegian synthpop trio CHVRCHES and Little Green Cars, along the way. He's ending up at SXSW too, which is "mind-blowing" to the modest boy from Stoke-On-Trent. |
| He's got plans for his debut album and is constantly developing new ideas but doesn't want to put himself under too much pressure to produce something that sounds rushed or mediocre. One difficulty is the decision to "pick a certain sound" because he's listening to African folk one day and Japanese pop the next. | He's got plans for his debut album and is constantly developing new ideas but doesn't want to put himself under too much pressure to produce something that sounds rushed or mediocre. One difficulty is the decision to "pick a certain sound" because he's listening to African folk one day and Japanese pop the next. |
| With a huge drive to take his music to bigger platforms and wider audiences he also shares an aim with many musicians, to play on Jools Holland, and with the way things are going that may well happen. | With a huge drive to take his music to bigger platforms and wider audiences he also shares an aim with many musicians, to play on Jools Holland, and with the way things are going that may well happen. |
| Emily Brinnand is a freelance journalist, radio presenter and producer. You can follow her on Twitter @EmilyBrinnand | Emily Brinnand is a freelance journalist, radio presenter and producer. You can follow her on Twitter @EmilyBrinnand |
| If you're in a northern band, Emily wants to hear from you so please Tweet her links to your music. | If you're in a northern band, Emily wants to hear from you so please Tweet her links to your music. |
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