NEWS
2024
December
My Christmas Song / Christmas Card will be on YouTube c 20th December. Titled 'Twenty Four', it reflects on advent calendars past and present! 'Twenty Four' for 2024!
In the last few months, I've played a few open mic slots locally, testing out new material.
I've also been back to Ian at Courtyard Studios to begin recording my third album - tentatively titled "Chaos and
Carnival", an exploration of my childhood. I've gigged a few of these new tunes and the one that has received the most positive feedback has been 'Paper Boy'. Other tracks will (hopefully) include 'Coke and Crips in Green Street Green', 'Paint a Picture', Spanish Football', 'Southlands Lido'. 'Out in Whitehall Rec' , 'Sleepless Nights and Stomach Aches' and others.
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June
First review of 'East of the Moon'.
STEVE DANIELS – EAST OF THE MOON AND WEST OF THE SUN
Oxfordshire Music Scene Summer 2024
The follow-up album to 2020’s ‘Green Triangle’ is a welcome return, full of folky melodies, jangling guitar tones, raw acoustic might and a clear theatrical voice that would suit a stage musical. Expectations run high as Ian Davenport (Gaz Coombes and Philip Selway’s producer) is in the production seat.
Opener ‘Outside’ exemplifies what Daniels does best and that is full-band, up-beat, steadypaced pop anthems. This sets a very high bar for things to come. The title track waltzes bittersweetly before highlight ‘Canary in a Coalmine’ shows Daniels’ range and ability to make a stomping chorus after some cool downplayed muted guitar lines. ‘Christine’ follows with an ode-like air of a chivalric courtly love. ‘Strangled Hares for Kidney Stones’ has Daniels really serving lyrical proficiency and cutting through the noise and pulling focus with some well-phrased ideas about authenticity, all strung together with a toe-tapping groove. The penultimate track, ‘Independence Day’ has shades of REM and is another string to the impressive bow of this breezy but introspective tour de force sophomore record. (Geno Naughton)
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March
'Outside' and 'Contrary' have been playlisted through February...
Best of Unsigned - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6PeSTXSFY9sOIZhcaXUtOG (Tier 2)
Indie Pop - Happy chill (28k followers) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Bvw8z7ZVazvYWZojLsCgm (Tier 1)
Daily Rock (39k followers) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5FJtzPABbbPb3F7kIHEg8M (Tier 2)
Indie chillout (21K Followers) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6AqldlcGllmFSY26aTGKq1 (Tier 2)
Unsigned Playlist (30k followers) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2823LlS6OZlbQuOwqNoDOq (Tier 2)
Indie pop - whistle tunes (28k followers) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7vo1PZwNPr0eEJlloHqUnT (Tier 2)
Indie pop hits - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3EyQtFj3l2gUVVXmhgtKHr (Tier 2)
Indie soundbox (17k followers) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Vt2ZQRhfd7DURlsDMAh95 (Tier 2)
Depressed AF - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5lfvD9nXDAXEHPklaLP5OZ (Tier 1)
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February (2)
Great to see that 'Contrary' now has nearly 2000+ streams on Spotify; 'Outside' has had nearly 1500.
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February (1)
Made an appearance on Wallingford Radio yesterday. Made very welcome by Ian and Andrea. Some of the tracks from 'East of the Moon' played + two live songs (Contrary and Odessa).
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January
Happy New Year!
Thank you for listening to the new single 'Outside' and the album 'East of the Moon and West of the Sun'.
Don't forget you can get a physical CD with an amazing 12" gatefold LP album sleeve (with full lyrics). At £15, all the money goes to me and will help to fund album no. 3 which is tentatively titled 'Chaos and Carnival'.
I've had a few plays of 'Outside' on Amazing Radio and have become an 'Amazing Artist' (I think).
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2023
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December
New album out now!
Physical (CD + 12" album cover with full lyrics)
On all major streaming platforms incl. Spotify
November
The new single, ‘Outside’ (b/w ‘Madonna and le Roi’), is released on Friday 17th November. It will, of course, be on all major streaming platforms (for free) e.g. https://open.spotify.com/artist/26c6cDl56vD8ChTLSxYaSx?si=3AEl3wJfQY6CNJazHkYyEQ
There’ll be a video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stevedanielsmusic/videos
…or you can buy the song(s) for £1 each from my online store: https://www.stevedaniels.online/online-store
You’ll receive a very high quality wav file + single artwork.
The new album, ‘East of the Moon and West of the Sun’ will be released on Friday 1st December.
Produced by Ian Davenport (Radiohead, Supergrass, Gaz Coombes and Band of Skulls) at Courtyard Studios, Sutton Courtenay, it features twelve original tracks. It’s my second album, following on from 2020’s ‘Green Triangle’.
A (very) limited number of physical copies (CD + 12” gatefold album sleeve with full lyrics) are available from my website store @ £15: https://www.stevedaniels.online/online-store
These can be pre-ordered now and will be sent out as soon as I have them (almost definitely before the official release date). If you do buy the physical copy, you are kindly helping with royalties and investing in my third album!
It will also be available on all major streaming platforms: https://open.spotify.com/artist/26c6cDl56vD8ChTLSxYaSx?si=3AEl3wJfQY6CNJazHkYyEQ
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October (2)
'East of the Moon and West of the Sun' will be released on December 1st. The album will be on all major streaming platforms + there will be a physical CD / 12" vinyl sleeve combo.
October
Masters have been approved - I'm just waiting for the CD and streaming masters to be delivered.
The album artwork is done - it'll be a simple CD cover but issued with a 12" gatefold sleeve, so I can include the lyrics.
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August
Running order for the second album 'East of the Moon and West of the Sun' now decided!
1. Outside 2. Long Goodbye 3. Contrary, So Sweet Marie 4. East of the Moon and West of the Sun 5. Who Will Take the Reins? 6 Canary in a Coalmine 7. Christine 8. Strangled Hares for Kidney Stones 9. Schoolboy Error 10. Odessa 11. Independence Day 12. Song for Me
(Two bonus b-sides - 'Jolly Hangman' and 'Madonna and Le Roi')
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July
Mixing done. Just looking into the track listing...all important for me - but do people listen to whole albums in order, from start to finish?
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May
First mixes of the tracks from 'East of the Moon...' now well under way with Ian at Courtyard.
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March (2)
Following 2x more days at Courtyard Studios (for bass, vocals, percussion and keys), the album is pretty much finished. Just a few days needed for mixing now.
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March
I have two more days of recording coming up later this month - hoping to finally finish the album.
Meanwhile, I have a few more live dates booked.
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January
New video of 'Contrary, So Sweet Marie' (recorded live at Sky Studios)
2022
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December
Christmas song and video now on YouTube
'Madonna and Le Roi' tells the story of how the carol 'Silent Night' was written. My daughter Emily did a great job filming - she took footage in our home village of Checkendon, along with my attempts to mime along outside St Leonard's Church, Wallingford.
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Two more days of recording...added some bass guitar on several songs...my daughter Emily added some backing vocals.
Live set at Peppard Unplugged - gave an airing to 'Serpentine', '(There is) Room at This
Inn' and 'Strangled Hares for Kidney Stones'.
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November
Had a great day at Sky Studios - playing live for a students' assessment show called 'Earlier'...played a live version of 'Contrary, So Sweet Marie'.
October 2022
Thank you to Readifolk Radio Show for playing one of my tracks ('A Red Hot Needle')- not just once (c 54 mins - 59 mins) but again straight after, with a spoken introduction (c 60 mins - 65 mins).
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August 2022
Played two 60 minute slots at Wallingford Bunkfest.
Two new songs on the way...'When I Was 11' and 'Paper Boy'.
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June 2022
New song nearly done...'Coke and Crisps in Green St Green'.
May 2022
Was great to get the amazing drummer Dan Western in to record on 4x 'band' tracks. Don't let anyone tell you that a drum machine is comparable to a human.
March 2022
Hoping to get back into the studio again soon. Last time out, I added some backing vocals and even some mellotron.
I also recorded a new song - 'Odessa' (inspired by the Bee Gees' album of the same name; thereby hangs a tale).
Have also 95% completed another new song, titled '464 2294'...!
2021
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September 2021
Many thanks to Alan Clayson for reviewing the album 'Green Triangle' in the September / October 2021 edition of esteemed magazine R 'n' R (Rock and Reel).
August 2021
Completed another two songs...'Who Will Take the Reins?' (love and support across the oceans) and 'Boys Always' (memories of playing soldiers).
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June 2021
Back in the studio. Great to be working with Ian again. First session, we recorded mapped and recorded guide vocals, guitar and drums for 4x tracks: 'Canary in a Coalmine', 'Outside', 'Contrary, So Sweet Marie' and 'Independence Day'.
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April 16th
Looking like I have enough songs now for my follow up album. Just added a couple more songs...'Canary in a Coalmine' and 'Song for Me'. Joining these will be 'Christine'; 'Contrary Sweet Marie'; 'East of the Moon (and West of the Sun)'; 'Independence Day'; 'The Jolly Hangman'; 'Laughing in the Rain'; 'Outside'; 'Schoolboy Error'; 'Silence'; 'Strangled Hares and Kidney Stones' and 'The Long Goodbye'...hang on, that's maybe too many...
January 7th
Happy New Year...if you missed the Christmas video featuring the new song 'A Time' - hear and see it here!
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2020
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24th December
This year's Christmas video - 'A Time' now out!! Happy Christmas.
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17th December
I've been busy trying to finish songs for the new album. Tracks that are there (or thereabouts) are: Christine; Contrary Sweet Marie; East of the Moon (and West of the Sun); Independence Day; The Jolly Hangman; Laughing in the Rain; Outside; Schoolboy Error; Silence; Strangled Hares and Kidney Stones; The Long Goodbye...
Title for the album? There or Thereabouts? East of the Moon? More Songs About Ghosts?
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15th December
The Daniels' Christmas video card on its way shortly. Meanwhile, I'm posting the 'old' Christmas videos (one a day) on my Facebook page. Each has a little memory and a comment about the experience!
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October 5th
The Cornerstone Friday Session still available to watch (I'm on from 14:30)
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September 29th
I am pleased to announce another live performance for Cornerstone's Friday Sessions this Friday 2nd October. The three song set includes one track from Green Triangle, plus two brand new songs. As a special surprise, one of the new songs was filmed in situ by my daughter Emi.
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August 19th
If you missed the Online Music Club performance, you can see it here.
Answers to the LP quiz (the LP covers that appear on the wall behind me):
L to R top row...
Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen; Peter Gabriel 3 (inside sleeve); Hundreds and Thousands, a compilation of Bromley bands c 1982; Bee Gees - Odessa; 40 All-Time Honky Tonk Hits;
L to R middle row...
The Drivers - Shorts Cuts; The Dukes of Stratosphear - Psonic Psunspot; The Jam - The Gift (gift bag!)
L to R bottom...
The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
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August 7th
First gig for a while...live from home on the Online Music Club this Sunday 9th August. Aswell as tracks from 'Green Triangle', I'm hoping to debut a new song or two - depending on how rehearsals go!
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June 5th
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Lockdown Live at Didcot Cornerstone on the 12th...
April 20th
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'Drop in the Ocean' playlisted by Wallingford Radio
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March 12th
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Review of the album 'Green Triangle' by Paul Carrera in Nightshift magazine
STEVE DANIELS ‘Green Triangle’ (Self released) “Words are flowing out like endless rain” sang John Lennon, and for Steve Daniels words are his prime colours for these twelve pleasing “song paintings”. During a working lifetime, initially as a school teacher and then onto the fringes of the music business with Edition UK, Steve has scratched his itch by singing in minor bands with poster-gold names like Plussupport, while simultaneously working up his own material for this debut release. His fine voice has a rich, easy quality, much like Justin Hayward, and it’s that, along with the mining of the folk idiom of fulsome old tales and supernatural stories, that brings to mind echoes of the Moody Blues, but without any prog bombast. So we have local ghostly legends recounted; about Ipsden’s highwayman in ‘Alas My Brother’, with its hints of early Genesis guitaring, and Checkendon’s ‘Green Triangle’ about US Airmen based there in WW2, where he spectacularly rhymes “Jeep” with “eternal sleep”. Then there is the delightful bluesy lady called ‘Serpentine’ who apparently has the kind of face that “commits crimes”, and a Medieval mystery ‘Miraculous Beam’, fashioned in the style of Chris de Burgh’s ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’, another oral narrator that Steve sits well alongside. It’s probably true that inside every music publisher there is a personal album gnawing to get out, and with beautiful help from his erstwhile bandmates – Ollie Clark (drums), Graham Field (bass) and Matt Arthur (keyboards) – and all produced by the redoubtable Ian Davenport at Courtyard Studios, this is Steve’s legacy time, because off in the land of ghosts you can’t take it with you.
February 16th
'Drop in the Ocean' (from the album 'Green Triangle') has been playlisted by Radio Six International - one of the most eclectic stations in the world! Thank you Tony Currie.
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February 13th
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The song 'Green Triangle' has been Spotify playlisted by Jorg. Thank you my friend!
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February 11th
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Appearance at Sonning Common Primary School. The song 'Green Triangle' sung to Year 6, with discussion around WW2, the 320th Barrage Battalion and whether the song is truth, half-truth or false.
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January 28th
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'Green Triangle' now available on Bandcamp:
https://stevedaniels1.bandcamp.com/follow_me
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January 26th
A review of the song 'Green Triangle' has appeared on the AnR Factory website.
"...hearing those porously emotive vocal notes was an unforgettably grounding experience.
Steve Daniels has a rare nuanced air to his softly-versed vocals which allows him to paint in vivid colours with his words."
You can see the full review here
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January 24th
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'The English Rain' now on Bandcamp...only £1 or more if you wish...
2019
December 23rd
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Physical sales of the CD are going well...
There are some new songs on the way for what will become That Difficult Second (Album) - I'm currently working on a number of new songs...so far: 'The Jolly Hangman', 'Independence Day', 'Outside', 'Everybody Sees a Different Rainbow', 'Silence', 'East of the Moon and West of the Sun'...
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December 12th
'Green Triangle' is the 2019 Daniels' Christmas video. See it on the 'videos' page on on YouTube.
December 5th
'Green Triangle' OUT NOW
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November 28th
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Release date for 'Green Triangle'...5th December
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November 25th
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Booklets due later this week. Release date looking like the week after...
November 19th
I now have the CDs...the booklets are on their way..the songs are registered with PPL...really pleased. release date will be early December...
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October 22nd
Debut album 'Green Triangle' now mastered; metadata added; barcode purchased; artwork being prepared. Oh, and a new running order:
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Angels’ Wings (3:50)
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Crossing the Rubicon (4:19)
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Least Likely To (2:15)
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Serpentine (3:27)
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Alas, My Brother (3:07)
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Green Triangle (4:16)
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The English Rain (Comes Falling Down) (3:12)
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A Red Hot Needle (and a Burning Thread) (4:28)
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Drop in the Ocean (3:53)
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The Miraculous Beam (4:41)
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The Voyage (4:22)
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For the Ones (3:04)
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September 11th
The album 'Green Triangle' now being mastered...
September 1st
Had a great time at the Comrades' Club, Wallingford yesterday, as part of Wallingford Bunkfest. Lots of familiar faces...thank you all for coming.
Also got aboard the C&W Railway (Cholsey & Wallingford), entertaining the passengers. Best to stand still and play, I think - I'll know for next time.
August 20th
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The album "Green Triangle" is in the final stages of mixing; soon to be mastered and then unleashed upon the world...via CD, download and streaming.
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The provisional running order is:
Side A
"Alas, My Brother"
"Red Hot Needle (and a Burning Thread)"
"Crossing the Rubicon"
"Serpentine"
"Least Likely To"
"Angels' Wings"
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Side B
"Drop in the Ocean"
"The Voyage"
"For the Ones"
"The Miraculous Beam"
"English Rain"
"Green Triangle"
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How was this decided?
Well, you allocate each song a
small piece of paper, detailing
the title, key, subject, how the
songs start and finish - and
instrumentation. Spread them
out onto the floor, move them
around until you get a satisfying
order...
