My first CD with my name on it was self-released. They recorded me for free so I would have a product out but it is a live CD, recorded in a club on a night I didn`t know I was to be recorded.
In general, my newest compositions are always my favorites. Creating is what it is all about for me. I rarely go back and revisit old pieces. My current material is always representative of where my head is at musically at any particular point in time.
I recently posted a couple of tracks on Soundcloud and my track "Atomic Shadow" went bananas with over 50,000 listens within a couple of weeks. That was the largest single networking event I`ve experienced.
It`s having different layers on songs - melodies and different time signatures under melodies - that makes songs interesting. It´s cool when you are able to find new things from songs after listening several times.
I play instrumental blues and rock. Freddie King`s instrumental records really had an impact on me. I can`t sing but those records showed me there`s still a lot you could say without vocals.
A lot of people don`t realize that the guitar is a great melodic instrument, and can easily take the job of a singer. You can take a vocal melody, play it on a guitar and make it just as expressive or more so.
I wanted this CD to sound like four musicians jamming live in a studio, and if that`s what it sounds like to someone, then that makes it better.
The unexpected success of "Fill The Sky" has spawned tons of other peripheral stuff that also requires a lot of time and effort such as interviews, endorsements, and guest appearances.
I`m not taking myself to seriously. And I think that`s a good thing... music is supposed to be fun.
I`ve got a killer new record out on Lion Music which is being promoted with a digital, electronic press kit (EPK).
My listening isn`t biased towards guitar players. In fact, I think I might even avoid seeking out guitar players` recordings, because I`ve had better luck trying to get clear about my own approach to the instrument.
I had several proposals with major labels, but now the music business is really hard - no one does anything serious for you.
Dan McAvinchey is a guitarist and composer living in Raleigh, NC.
He believes every musician or composer has the power to write, record and release their own music.
His 1997 CD release on Guitar Nine was entitled "Guitar Haus".
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