With two rousing and engaging releases now under his belt, we had a chat with emerging UK artist Dan Selwood ahead of the release of a debut EP later in the year
With his distinctive and personal writing. and an emphatic, often anthemic sound, Dan Selwood is carving out a path for himself as the latest UK singer-songwriter tp capture the hearts and minds of many with their charismatic storytelling and infectious melodies.
His first two releases, ‘These Things’, and the brand new ‘Cigarettes’ both showcase an artist boasting a sound that feels distinctly his own, soaked in an affable sense of authenticity and charm and weaving candid tales about life and that feel both personal and universally relatable. ‘Cigarettes’ is a track that really exemplifies this anthemic quality that the artist has, beginning in a more subdued fashion before exploding into life in a way that feels both cathartic and emphatic. These two tracks look set to form part of the artist’s highly anticipated debut EP, so what better time is there than now to familiarise yourself with the rising star and be able to say you got there first when things start really taking off.
Who TF is Dan Selwood?
A solo artist from Glossop, a small town not far from Manchester.
How long have you been making music?
I started playing guitar when I was 7, but I didn’t start writing songs and singing until I was around 14 in a band at school. Since then, I’ve been refining my sound, writing plenty of songs and playing live shows: a bit of everything really.
Why do you make music
I’ve always had an interest in music, as I come from quite a musical family and a family of music fans; my dad’s filled an entire room with CDs.
Being brought up in that environment, I’ve always had the urge to make noise of some kind. I initially wanted to play drums but the neighbours soon put a stop to that, so I settled for the guitar.
With songwriting, I want to create something that I would listen to and to not be limited or defined by anything. I want to write songs that when you hear them, you can tell straight away it’s a Dan Selwood song.
What are your biggest influences?
I’m inspired by numerous artists, but they don’t necessarily shape my sound. I’m influenced by people I meet in my daily life, as a student in Manchester, and I like to take ideas and stories I hear from them and write about it. If you hang around me long enough, you’ll most likely end up in a song somewhere or other.
Currently, I’m very much into the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Wolf Alice and Noah Gundersen but it changes all the time.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
Probably my first headline show, back in February. I’d played a couple of great support shows with my band before but this was my first full-band headline show and it sold out. I got told it had sold out as I was going on stage and I had so much fun playing my songs to all those people. Live gigs are a real passion for me and I adore performing.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
Song-to-song, it jumps around slightly but what seems to stick around throughout is a massive, anthemic chorus and an element of melancholy. This song, in particular, is a big indie rock anthem with a real ‘wall of sound’ feel.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
I’ve always gone to watch gigs at the O2 Ritz in Manchester and each time I come away imagining myself playing there. A sold out show at the Ritz would be a real moment for me and I hope to get there one day and play even bigger venues further down the line.
We love your new single ‘Cigarettes’, what more can you tell us about it?
I wrote the song, alone, in a dirty rehearsal room when I first started college and I felt at the time like I didn’t belong there. I was pretending to be who I’m not, in order to fit in and the song is a reflection of how I felt back then. I think that’s quite a relatable experience for a lot of people starting new ventures in their lives, where they try to reinvent themselves but end up changing who they truly are and losing what makes them special.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
I’m looking to release an EP later this year with two more tracks on it and to play more shows with my band, keeping myself busy along the way. I’ve been writing and demoing loads of new songs and I can’t wait to get back in the studio.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
My family are all so supportive and probably my biggest fans. I often walk in to my grandad playing my YouTube videos on the big TV, I’m just surprised they haven’t got bored of me yet.
