A new release from Dre Daniels brings out a beautiful crossover between lush classic rock and honest Americana and country that come together to create something that feels like it came from someplace genuine and real as it tells a story with some great description and features plenty of vocal and musical hooks.
"You Done Me Wrong" is insanely relatable and comes together with such a comfortable arrangement while the performance is so catchy and bears some soul but doesn't go without touching on elements of a whimsical approach.
This aspect of the song is great because it's something that is based on a relatable and somewhat serious story situation but keeping that humor there floating around up top is something not everyone can pull off the right way.
Dre does an amazing job of balancing those aspects of the song and also that performance really delivers both of those worlds as well which lets you kind of soak it in properly.
This was fun and catchy but also had elements of great country ballads as well.
Slide guitar sections are scattered throughout the track and you get these almost rustic and classic undertones that hint towards that gritty country approach.
This is definitely a song about love to an extent and one that anyone who's been dumped would love to hear because it says things that you want to say but maybe you don't know how to articulate.
Songs like this feel like it's cathartic for the artist because it's almost cathartic for the listener as well so it's got to be something that gives back for the songwriter.
I would imagine that after writing the song all you can do is picture the face of that person that did it to you as they listen to the track for the first time.
Even just that picture painted in my head is something that's worth a million words.
The other great thing about this track is the music video that accompanies it because that also shows those two sides of the songwriting as well.
You get a lot of great humor throughout the video and also a sense of Dre as a person as his character is presented throughout the video in a unique manner.
I think the fact that this track keeps to that humorous undertone but also that relatable country style it's something that a lot of people would really like.
Probably even people that aren't that big on country music would dig this just because of its premise and how it's pulled off.
It's got great delivery from beginning to end and again, he falls right into that character perfectly which makes the song work.
With the release of the single, we definitely wanted to have a sit down with Dre Daniels just to see where this actually came from and what might be next for the artist.
Here's what happened.
Buzz Slayers: Okay, let's start with " You Done Me Wrong"! This track had a cinematic and storytelling style that was really authentic! How did this single come about?
The genesis of the song was the line "You Done Done Me Wrong" which was overheard somewhere in a bar in Brooklyn many years ago or possibly on the road. It was someone referring to a break up with a girl and he said "She done done me wrong". It had a funny, colloquial ring to it and I started writing lyrics about various break-ups that I had encountered, either personal or those of friends and acquaintances. I started to patch these various stories into one long tale and the result was "You Done Done Me Wrong." It's a tale of heartbreak and moving on from situations that don't work for you anymore and the release that can come from those momentous decisions. Hopefully it resonates with everyone who has gone through this type of breakup and allows them to see the lighter side of an otherwise traumatic experience.
Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as an artist? When did you fall in love with music?
I've always loved music. Apparently I used to sing along to the radio at a very young age without knowing the words or melody... one can only imagine how that sounded! I sang in a holiday choir growing up and played saxophone and piano in high school but it was when I turned 11 and got my first guitar that I became truly obsessed and wanted to be a musician. I was enamored with Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen and studied their playing. I started performing in bands and began to get a reputation as a good guitar player but it wasn't until my first serious original band Icenine in the early aughts that I actually started writing music and found out that I had a knack for it.
Buzz Slayers: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
Inspiration for songs can come from anywhere really. A conversation with someone at the store, something you hear on the radio, a road sign, a book, even other songs. Every now and then a seed of a great line or phrase will come about and then I will nurse that line and try to grow it into a verse or a chorus with the hopes that it will sprout into a beautiful song. It's a lot about being in the moment, catching an idea when it comes and then having the discipline to see that idea into fruition. That is alternately the most challenging and rewarding part of the process: nurturing the idea into a complete song.
Buzz Slayers: This single has some great styles on it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
I have a ton of influences and it would take up a lot of room to list them here but if we look at this song in particular, I would say that it was largely influenced thematically by Ween, the Allman Brothers and various country artists. Ween in particular have this amazing ability to take almost any style of music and craft super-catchy songs with often outrageous or impertinent lyrics and that is definitely something I was going for with "You Done Done Me Wrong." The slide guitar and organ on the track are definitely nods to the Allman Brothers and what Duane and Greg were doing in that band.
Buzz Slayers: What are you performing on this record exactly?
I worked with a producer Jimmy Coppens on this track and he helped lay down the rhythm tracks and then I pretty much played everything on top of that including the guitars, bass, slide/solo guitar, vocals and harmonies. The organ part was played by Benjamin Nicholas who was just helping out on the session and mentioned he also played keys. We let him have at it and were really pleased with the results!
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
Oh man, just doing what it takes to keep this train rolling and enjoying life as much as possible.
Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?
Bye Bye Blackbird the Miles Davis version off of 'Round About Midnight
Buzz Slayers: Are you doing any live performances right now?
Yes. I just finished a few shows for the release of "You Done Done Me Wrong" in Nashville and next week I'm going to Indiana to play a show. I'm planning shows for the summer in support of the new release so check my website for more info.
Buzz Slayers: Did you record yourself or hit a big studio for this?
I worked with a producer at Ranch Studios in Nashville to record "You Done Done Me Wrong." I've produced and released a lot of music on my own so it was great to have creative input and help with the process from Jimmy Coppens and Ben Nicholas.
Buzz Slayers: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
I've got a ton of unreleased material that is in various stages of completion including an album of guitar music, a bunch of electronic music for my Resident Alien project and the soundtrack to a video game. The best way to stay abreast of it all is to sign up for the mailing list on my website http://www.dredaniels.com
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
I hope you all are digging the music. It takes a lot of time and energy to record, release and market this music so if you like it and want to hear more please consider making a donation on patreon or through venmo. And be sure to follow me on social and streaming platforms. Definitely check out the video for "You Done Done Me Wrong." It's a good one!
Finally, I would love to hear what you are thinking. Leave comments and feedback on social or send me an email at dredanielsmusic@gmail.com.
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