Dan Carroll

Gold Coast singer/songwriter Dan Carroll jumps straight into a set of ultra melodic guitar driven pop rock. Fast paced funk influenced 'Brand New Day' and smooth 'Losers Party' provide perfect vehicles for Carroll's highly refined vocal. - Rave Magazine

THE STORM
Sunday 5pm
Nine, NBN
Gold Coast singer/songwriter Dan Carroll didn't hesitate when filmmaking couple Dale and Sue Paget turned to him to score their latest documentary, The Storm.
Carroll says writing music for the film is exactly the challenge he needed.
"This is the first time I'd done anything like this," says Carroll.
"Trying to get across a mood or a feeling with a 10 second grab of music is a whole different challenge to writing a three minute song with lyrics."
The Storm details how cyclonic weather create big coastal waves and the surf communities link with the elements.
Carroll's working relationship with the Pagets goes back to their debut film, Waves in Paradise in which Carroll and his band Fluid contributed three songs to.
Employing an acoustic guitar and percussion base to reflect the natural elements of the film, Carroll spent six months writing and recording the score on a digital eight track recorder at home.
"It was a long process, but something I'd definately look at doing again" - Gold Coast Bulletin

Dan Carroll has found himself. The gold coast singer/songwriter supported Lisa Marie Presley at her local gig and it was Presley asking Carroll for advice, so he must be doing alright.
Carroll started singing ten years ago in high school but it took some time to find his own voice.
"I played in a covers band. It wasn't very good but noone else would sing so I did it."
He went on to study journalism at Griffith University but all he was really interested in was music.
"It's my passion. I get up in the morning to play music." A few music subjects crept into his degree and now he's working fulltime as a musician, writing and performing original songs. And write he does. Carroll's on the guitar every day of the year.
Carroll's latest EP is Strange Inside. his first solo effort.
"The object was to document me sitting in a room singing with an acoustic guitar." - abc.net.au/goldcoast

Hey Guys
I just got your CD this morning and I'm listening to it right now. I LOVE IT!!!! I'm hoping to come see you tomorrow night in Surfers. Keep up the fantastic work and I can't wait to hear more from you.
Cheers
Ronnie - Email

Mr Carroll
Once again a fantastic gig today @ the Griffith uni Bar.
I would have to say that 'Loser's Party' and 'Cut Me a Break' are my absolute faves. I didn't know how you would be able to produce the same sound live as you did on record but it was even better. My friends and I enjoyed your set and are eager fans to spread the word.
All the best
Brooke - Email

With a new album on the way, popular Gold Coast singer-songwriter Dan Carroll and his mates are taking the next step on their musical journey. Michael Jacobson reports

The situation appears fated. One kid, having put aside clarinet and saxophone lessons, is learning to play guitar, while across the street another kid bangs away on a student drum kit.

There's nothing unusual here. Every day new bands emerge from similar scenarios. Yet for those involved, the experience of that first band is so profound as to seem theirs and theirs alone.

In the case of Gold Coaster Dan Carroll, he was the one studying guitar while neighbour Jules Keshan was learning the drums.

Years later, their musical partnership remains strong and, along with mates Brad Hosking, Ben Crawford and Steve Whittington, the Dan Carroll Band are currently recording an album with producer Anthony Lycenko.

``One of the struggles all bands face is maintaining a balance between the music and the individual personalities. These guys make that easy,'' says Carroll.

As a songwriter, Carroll is not the first to have drawn his initial inspiration from Paul McCartney. Nor will he be the last.

However, rather than being seduced by Sir Paul's legendary work with the Beatles, Carroll fell for Band On the Run, by McCartney's post-Beatles band Wings.

``Mum and Dad had the album and it was through listening to its songs the title track, Jet, Bluebird, Let me Roll It that I found my first real musical influence,'' he says.

``McCartney has such a profound melodic gift, but as time went on I also began to pick up on the great instrumentalists, particularly guitarists, from Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to, later on, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joe Satriani.''

Carroll started his first band, the Weasels, in high school. Playing covers, the Weasels offered more enthusiasm than ability.

``We were useless,'' says Carroll, ``but then again, you have to start somewhere and being in that band is one of the greatest memories of my life.

``Every Thursday lunchtime we'd rehearse it was the only time the teachers allowed us to make a noise and we'd put everything into it before we had to pack up and trudge off to accounting.''

After high school, Carroll began a communications degree at Griffith University he graduated in 1998 and with Keshan formed the band Fluid. During the next six years, Fluid would become one of the Gold Coast's most popular bands.

``We just loved it. From the very first rehearsal we knocked over three original songs and knew we had something,'' recalls Carroll.

``When that happens, you push on. We did some jam nights at the Doghouse, scored some support gigs and all the time worked on our writing and playing.

``For me, my writing style had evolved into a more melodic style. Though I appreciated the `big riff' bands, I didn't feel part of that movement.

``I just didn't feel the angst. I wanted to pursue the craft more than the image.
``I began writing songs using an acoustic guitar rather than an electric and found a joy, a real creative freedom there.''

Expanding his influences to include REM, Jeff Buckley, Ron Sexsmith and Dave Matthews, Carroll developed his own style, one that is distinct, and importantly, not derivative. Evidence of that can be heard to splendid effect on Hit the Low Notes High, Carroll's 2005 mini-album.

He has also performed with many other fine artists, among them Pete Murray, Alex Lloyd, Missy Higgins, The Whitlams and Eskimo Joe. In 2004 he supported Lisa Marie Presley on the Queensland leg of her Australian tour and at the Big Day Out.

``Writing and performing are an equal pleasure for me,'' says Carroll. ``I have a room at home which is just for me and my music.

``Being in that room is utterly satisfying as a song comes together. You wonder what could possibly equal that feeling. Then you perform it live and you know.''

Gold Coast audiences can see and hear for themselves when the Dan Carroll Band play the Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Paradise, on Friday (November 17).

- Gold Coast Bulletin

With the recent release of the Dan Carroll Band's new album Departure, the man behind the name talks to Michael Jacobson about a new step in his musical journey.

Gold Coast musician Dan Carroll is shouting the cappuccinos and soon the conversation is flowing as smoothly as the coffee. He seems relaxed, as if a weight has been removed from his shoulders.

In a way it has, for the album that has consumed the Dan Carroll Band for more than a year is complete and has been released.

Not merely called Departure, it is one. Carroll believes the album signals an important new step in his musical journey, even though he admits it was a long time coming.

``Yeah, there was the occasional hiccup along the way,'' he says, before going on to recall a recording process stymied by car breakdowns on the way to the studio, time constraints, other planned and unplanned interruptions and, of all things, a dog attack.

``But now it's done and it's time to start plugging away, to get it out there in the shops, on-line and live. We're following the age-old path of the aspiring band: get the message out and work, work, work.''

That message deserves to heard because the songs on Departure reveal a songwriter of growing confidence and competence and a band offering more than mere support for its frontman.

With long-time musical mate Jules Keshan on drums, Brad Hosking on keyboards (Brad, who came to the Gold Coast in 2002 and joined Dan in 2004, is also enjoying a shouted coffee) and Stevie Whittington on bass, Carroll has found players both in tune and attuned to his evocative songs.

``Because the songs initially come from me, I can be a bit fussy about them. And there are times you have to be. But this time I took the songs to the guys and it became a really collaborative process,'' says Carroll.

``For this album we'd get together and just pull the songs apart and put them back together, almost re-creating them as a band.

``Then producer Anthony Lycenko added his expertise when we came to the recording. It's the first time we'd used anyone as a dedicated producer and having his fresh ears was a huge influence.

``All up it was a good experience, one I'd like to have again and again.

``The focus was very much on avoiding the temptation to overdo things. We wanted the songs to have room to breathe. Less is more was the mantra and the result, I believe, is a more subtle album and a new direction.''

Dan Carroll's musical journey began as a boy when he fell for the music of Paul McCartney. Not the Beatles, but Wings, and particularly the Band on the Run album. He then gravitated towards guitarists, such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Joe Satriani.

Carroll's first band, the Weasels, formed in high school and ranks among Carroll's fondest memories. However, he is blunt in his description of the band's abilities.

``We were useless,'' he told paradise last year. ``Every Thursday lunchtime we'd rehearse - it was the only time the teachers allowed us to make a noise - and we'd put everything into it before we had to pack up and trudge off to accounting.''

Useless is not a word to describe Carroll's post-high school band, Fluid, which over six years grew to become one of the Gold Coast's most popular outfits.

And all the while Carroll's songwriting was evolving, moving away from the big riffs and towards the more melodically-driven style so prevalent and pleasing on the 2005 mini-album Hit the Low Notes High and now on Departure.

Promoting the new album is a multi-faceted process.

``For a small independent band like us, taking the music on the road is always difficult,'' says Carroll.

``Brad and I have talked about recording podcasts, about utilising the technology available today that can really take your music to the world.

``You can also take advantage of online technology by constantly delivering new material.''

Gold Coast fans won't need to go online to hear the Dan Carroll Band playing tracks from Departure. The band plays the Gold Coast Arts Centre's Basement on Thursday (Nov 29) and Fisherman's Wharf on December 7.












- Gold Coast Bulletin. Paradise Magazine

All footprints lead to Gold Coast band, June Julys

Gold Coast band The June Julys are set to perform at the free Footprints Music Festival to be held in Rex Smeal Park this Sunday from 3pm

PORT Douglas music lovers are getting ready to kick up their heels when the Gold Coast-based June Julys rock band takes to the stage for the Footprints Music Festival at Rex Smeal Park this Sunday.

The June Julys, made up of Dan Carroll on guitar and vocals, Brad Hosking on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Stevie Whittington on bass and Jules Keshan on drums, will also play at the Iron Bar on Saturday night.

Mr Keshan said the band would play all original material, including “punchy, rocky tunes”.

“We have a catchy kind of vibe, a combination of influences but more acoustic and rocky than anything,” he said.

“We keep a musical approach and we’ve never liked to thrash it out.”

Mr Keshan said the band was looking forward to performing in Port Douglas, especially for an open-air festival.

“Playing outside is always a nice change of scene and the music has a different sound, an open-air feel,” he said.

The June Julys have previously performed with musicians Pete Murray, Alex Lloyd, Missy Higgins, The Witlams and Eskimo Joe and are about to release an EP, The June Julys.

Footprints is a free musical event beginning at 3pm in Rex Smeal Park this Sunday to mark the end of the Go Troppo festival.
- Port Douglas and Mossman Gazette