Deebs Days Countdown: An Interview with Daniel Donato July 6, 2022 15:58

 

Photo by Annelise Loughead

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

As most music fans in and around the Birmingham area are already aware, CBDB and Big Friendly Productions have joined forces to bring an incredible new festival to Avondale Brewing Company this summer. Deebs Days Music Festival is pinned for Friday, August 19th and Saturday, August 20th in Birmingham (AL), and all signs point to an incredible celebration. If you haven't gotten around to purchasing your weekend passes, we've got you covered. Simply click the link below and secure your spot while you still can. 
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As we prepare for the festival, we're catching up with a handful of the performers on the lineup. This week, we're continuing the official "Deebs Days Countdown" with rising "Cosmic Country" star Daniel Donato. This guy has seen a tremendous amount of success over the past few years, and as soon as you hear his incredibly unique sound, you'll know why. Donato began his career as a teenager cutting his teeth at the famous Robert's Western World in Nashville, and he's done nothing but climb the ranks since then. 
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Fresh off of a huge weekend at The Peach Festival, which included guest appearances with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Kitchen Dwellers, and Eggy, Donato is on pace to carry this tremendous momentum across his summer tour. Many may have seen his debut performance at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival last month (see pro-shot video below), and you certainly will not want to miss his set at Deebs Days at Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham. Check out the interview below, and make sure to follow Daniel Donato on Facebook and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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Great to speak with you today, Daniel. You’ve been grinding your way through the Nashville music scene since your teenage years. Tell me a little bit about how this journey began for you. 
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Daniel: I started busking at 14, and then I discovered the Don Kelley Band at Robert’s Western World. I saw them every weekend for 3 years, and then got in the band. I played 464 shows with them; 4 hours a day, 4 days a week.
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Was there a particular moment when you really felt that things began to take off? When did you realize that this could be a full-time career? 
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Daniel:  Just as a tree grows, it is an organic and incremental process; the emergence of a form born from passion and nature takes time. The first time I ever played on stage, my intuition urged me to dedicate my life to this craft. 
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You seem to have coined the phrase "cosmic country" when it comes to your sound. Tell me about this concept and where it came from. 
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Daniel:  It’s a Yin and Yang concept. Cosmic is explorative and danceable. Country is enchanting and classic. These are the things we all love and seek within music. A homeless wiseman who used to hang out behind Robert’s called my sound “Cosmic Country,” and I simply loved it. It’s a whole philosophy towards existence, not just music, but then again, what’s the difference between those two?
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You released a series of singles leading up to your debut EP, Starlight, back in 2019. You've since released two full length albums, A Young Man's Country (2020) and Cosmic Country & Western Sounds (2021). What stands out the most when looking back on these experiences, both in your writing and recording process?
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Daniel: How much I’ve grown and emerged since these recordings’ release is a wonder to behold. I can’t wait for the next record.
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While Nashville's always been such a special place for "country music," there really seems to be a bit of a revolution underway these past few years. What are your thoughts on the current state of affairs? 
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Daniel: Magic happens in pockets of time and tight knit geographic places. Everyone who is selling out amphitheaters and arenas in my scene, I have at one point seen play for $5 to no one on a Tuesday night. Patience, persistence and positivity lead the way down this no simple highway.
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You'll be bringing your signature "cosmic country" sound to Deebs Days Music Festival in Birmingham on August 19th-20th. What can those in attendance expect from you and the band?
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Daniel: Cosmic Country delivers a celebratory experience through exploration of modern and traditional genres with danceable rhythms, enchanting Melodies, and inclusive songs.
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Before we wrap this up, I wanted to see if you could touch on some 2022 highlights. Looking back, what have been some of the high points thus far? What's on the horizon that has you and the band fired up?
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Daniel:  Headlining close to 100 shows so far, touring with the Kitchen Dwellers, playing Bonnaroo and chilling with Billy Strings, playing with damn near everyone at Peach Fest — all of these lead into one source — our connection with the music and the fans. This is all that matters when it is all said and done.
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