He first picked up a guitar at the age of five, and now Aussie born, Nashville based acoustic crooner Daniel Champagne will play at the Bowral Bowling Club on Thursday, December 9.
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With five albums under his belt and a stellar show lined up, get to know Daniel Champagne.
What can the audience expect from you on Thursday night?
Daniel Champagne: This will be my first trip to Bowral in some time.
I'll be playing a collection of songs off my last few albums plus a few from a newer one I've been working on.
There s a lot of guitar work in the show, alternate tunings, body percussion, two-hand tapping and stories from a decade or so of touring around the world.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, how did you get started?
DC: I grew up on the Far South Coast, just out of Bega and began playing when I was five.
I studied pretty hard as a kid and as a teenager, mostly classical guitar but other styles on the side and began writing songs around 14.
When I finished school I decided to hit the road and try my hand and touring, so far I haven't had a good reason to stop
What made you pick up the guitar at the age of five and learn?
DC: My dad is a guitar player and my first memory of anything was watching his band rehearse in the backyard when I was a kid.
He was the guitar player in that band so that was the instrument I was drawn to.
Who are some of the biggest musical influences in your career?
DC: I had some great teaches growing up.
My dad, my school teachers and a local guitar player all helped me along.
I'm always listening to different artists who've influenced me at different times, mostly guitar players such as Jimi Hendrix, Michael Hedges, Kelly Joe Phelps and Jeff lang are the first few that jump to mind.
The last 18 months have been crazy with COVID, how has that affected you?
DC: It's been quite the rollercoaster of ups and downs, as I'm sure it has been for everyone else. I was touring in America last February/March when the pandemic started to kick in there.
I finished those concerts and came back to Australia as things shut down for six months or so.
From last spring onwards I've been lucky to get out and play shows where I can when I can.
I've managed to tour in each state and territory and even spend a few months in New Zealand. I've also written a lot of new songs which I'm thankful for!
What do you love about performing live?
DC: I love the rawness and vulnerability of live performance. No matter how good our entertainment technology gets, there's nothing that beats a bunch of people sitting in the same room and sharing the same moment that can't be captured or replicated anywhere else.
Do you have a favourite song you love to perform?
DC: I'm always working on new songs as I travel around playing so these newest ones are what I look forward to playing each night.
There's nothing like testing a brand new song on a real audience.
What has influenced your latest album?
DC: The last album was made in Nashville where I was living pre covid. It was inspired by a lot of great musicians that I would play with over there and the people and places that I would meet and see as I tour around.
What can we expect from you in the future?
DC: Well 2022 will be another full year of touring.
The first half will be in Australia and then hopefully going overseas from July onwards (fingers crossed).
I have also been working on a new album which will most likely come out before the year's end.
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