New Artist Spotlight - Joey Daniels

New Artist Spotlight: Joey Daniels

By Amanda Eckard

"If it's good music, I'm going to listen to it," said newcomer Joey Daniels who grew up listening to everything from Country to pop, R&B and rock. "I might sit down one day and write a pop song and the next day a Country song. Limiting a writer is like giving an artist a palette of paint but telling them all they can use is blue and red for the rest of their lives. It would be really boring. I see music the same way. I have chosen to do Country because I love it, but when I'm sitting around the house I'm going to continue to paint with all of the colors."

Daniels' parents and grandparents inspired and supported her musical dreams from an early age. "My dad and grandparents had a family act in Canada complete with a noon hour radio show. I've been singing forever. My mom has tapes of me when I was 2-years-old. I made up songs and she recorded them."

Growing up in British Columbia, Daniels performed at churches, weddings and community events to flex her vocal chops. At the tender age of 9, Daniels started a rock band with her brothers. They played '80s rock covers from groups Bon Jovi and Heart. She wrote her first song at 16.

Daniels recorded a demo (her brother Jason produced it) and an executive from Big3 Records overheard her in the studio. A month later, Daniels had a voicemail message from Bill Edwards, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Big3 Records, offering her a record deal.

Daniels wrote all 13 tracks on her debut album, which reflects the simplicity of her life while showcasing her bluesy vocal style.

IN HER OWN WORDS:

If you could go back in time what era would you visit and why?

"I would have loved the 60s. I definitely would have been a hippie chick, writing songs about peace and love, burning my bra, living out of some Volkswagen Van. I can just see it . me at Woodstock. Yeah, man!"

What song do you wish you had written?

"Every time I hear 'I Can't Make You Love Me' I think 'Wow, I wish I would have written that song.' It's one of the few songs that makes me wanna cry when I hear Bonnie Raitt singing it. She is amazing!"

What kind of album, other than Country, would you like to make?

"Pop, rock, acoustic, and definitely a Christmas CD. I just love writing about everything. I have so many different musical influences and depending on my mood, I really never know what I'm gonna write next. One day it is an alternative rock song and the next day a big ole Country ballad."

Who is your dream duet partner and why?

"John Mayer, even though he is not a 'Country artist.' I'd love to collaborate with him."

When they look back on your life in 50 years, what do you hope people say about you?

"I hope people say that I was fun to be around, that I was a dreamer and that I believed anything was possible. I know that those who know me personally might have a few other things to say like 'that Joey was sure stubborn and spoiled' but ultimately I hope they say that I put my friends and family above everything else because, to me, nothing else matters in this life."

On the Web: www.big3records.com

May 24, 2005