Daniel Ghattas

Melissa talks with Montreal solo artist Daniel Ghattas–

Have you ever signed onto MySpace and received a message from an artist looking to introduce you to their music? It happens all the time. MySpace has become a popular place for artists and bands to make themselves known to the rest of the world, through a thoughtful profile page with some of their music available to listen to.

This is exactly how I met Daniel Ghattas; up and coming singer/songwriter/producer from Montreal, Quebec. Whenever I get MySpace messages from an artist, I always check out their profile- after all, who doesn’t like some new music? I was incredibly surprised to see that Daniel was not only representing my hometown, but had some really great songs up on his page.

Daniel took some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for CONFRONT about his past in the music industry, his music, and where you can expect to see him in coming months.

CONFRONT: Tell me a little bit about how you first got started with your music?

Daniel: I started taking piano lessons early on, and at the age of 16 something happened: I found an old acoustic guitar in the basement. I had no idea how to properly hold it or pluck its strings but was determined to learn. Using the magical powers of the Internet, I discovered guitar tabs and finally got around to holding the instrument properly and playing full chords. At that point, I was hooked. Soon enough I was writing my first songs and my best friends and I randomly decided to start a band. We played a few shows and had a lot of good times. Eventually we disbanded, and I continued the creative process as a solo artist.

CONFRONT: How long have you been writing and recording music?

Daniel: It’s been an on and off process for the past 9 years. Wow, time flies!

CONFRONT: Where do you get your inspiration for your writing?

Daniel: I tend to be drawn to either beauty or conflict when writing. Any strong emotion can inspire me. Overall, I find human behavior fascinating and try to keep the songs as candid as possible. I won’t lie, resisting the temptation of self-censorship is the hardest part. My view on pop songwriting is that it’s all about striking a balance between being cryptic enough to make things interesting, and universal enough to remain accessible. It’s not always been perfect but I’m learning.

CONFRONT: Who are your musical influences?

Daniel: My formative years were spent listening to what I call late nineties/early 2000s “Can-rock” music: Our Lady Peace, Matthew Good Band, Moist, Edwin; basically, all the big Canadian bands at the time. Silverchair, Coldplay, The Smashing Pumpkins, Jack’s Mannequin, Something Corporate, Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eat World, The All American Rejects and many others have also influenced me. There’s so much great music out there and I’m constantly inspired.

CONFRONT: How would you describe your music genre?

Daniel: Pop/rock.

CONFRONT: What was the experience of putting together your first album like?

Daniel: To tell you the truth, it was never intended as an album. I would sporadically record new material whenever inspiration hit. At one point I realized that about a dozen songs were sitting on my hard drive gathering digital dust. That’s when I decided to release them as a self-titled album in the summer of 2008.

CONFRONT: What would you say are the best and most difficult aspects of working in the music business?

Daniel: Honestly, I don’t really consider myself as part of the music business. I just do my thing, whether it’s writing and performing my material or recording/producing/mixing other artists. From what I’ve heard and seen, the music industry is very similar to Hollywood: hot one day, forgotten the next. I have absolutely no problem with art and commerce meeting at some sort of middle ground, but please…give me something real once in a while. There’s nothing wrong with looking hot and shaking your butt but life isn’t one huge party at a club, you know? Sometimes we’re flawed and vulnerable. I think most people in the music industry mean well, they’re just caught in a business model that doesn’t bode well with long-term artist development. This industry has been collapsing over the past decade, and right now it seems like everyone is trying to figure out what the future will be. The fundamentals will never change: as long as someone somewhere in the world is writing great songs, people will connect. The great part about being involved in music is that I encounter all kinds of colourful and creative individuals who all have the same passion and hunger.

CONFRONT: What can fans expect from you when going to one of your shows?

Daniel: A seizure inducing light show, me being airlifted on stage from a helicopter, 20 scantily clad backup dancers and one big ass explosion at the end!

CONFRONT: What music are you listening to at the moment that you think everyone else should be listening to as well?

Daniel: I have to say…I’ve got it bad for the “Tik Tok” song by Ke$ha; Dr. Luke hit that one out of the ballpark. Aside from that, I’ve just discovered a great band called Parachute. I also make it a point to play Jay Z’s “Black Album” every morning, as it sets the tone for rest of my day.

CONFRONT: What’s a day in the life of Daniel Ghattas like?

Daniel: A wild ride which may or may not include smashing guitars, velvet and tiny packs of ketchup.

CONFRONT: If you could choose any one of your songs that best describes you right now, what would it be and why?

Daniel: “Get What You Want” because I’m hungry for what life has to offer. A recent event has shown me how much of a gift each second is.

CONFRONT: What is the one thing you hope to accomplish during your career (your most important goal)?

Daniel: As long as I can keep making music that is relevant to people, I’m happy.  It’s not a quantifiable goal, but I’d like to consistently improve as a singer, songwriter and producer.

CONFRONT: What’s coming up next for you?

Daniel: My new single “Signs of Life” will be available on March 23^rd 2010. Musically, it’s quite different from anything I’ve previously written. I wanted to experiment with various sounds and create an overall vibe rather than focus on catchy hooks and jangly guitars. It’s one of those songs in which you’ll discover something new with every listen. The lyrics are very representative of my current state of mind.

CONFRONT: I noticed you have many different ways to keep in touch with your fans, either MySpace, your blog, your mailing list… How do these social networks help you get to know your fans better?

Daniel: Let’s put it this way: without these tools, my music would not have travelled further than my family and circle of friends. Social networking has enabled me to reach an international audience. I’m still amazed at the e-mails I receive from countries all over the world, from Finland to Japan to Brazil. You end up realizing that people, although culturally different, react similarly when feeling connected to a song. More and more musicians are figuring out how important (and practically free!) these tools are.

CONFRONT: Any crazy/amazing fan experiences to share?

Daniel: Well…people can get quite creative sometimes! I’m always very appreciative of the gifts and art that come my way.

CONFRONT: Finish the sentence: I have never…

Daniel: Played with…firecrackers, WD-40 and flammable materials in my youth.

CONFRONT: Finish the sentence: I would never…

Daniel: Sell my soul…for a shot at love with Tia Tequila.

CONFRONT: First and last albums you’ve purchased?

Daniel: I imagine we’re referring to full albums here. The first one was “Totally Krossed Out” by Kris Kross on a cassette! The latest one is “Stalled Out in the Doorway” by Tomi Swick.

CONFRONT: First and last concerts you attended?

Daniel: First = Jimmy Eat World at The Metropolis in 2000 and last = Jack’s Mannequin at Le National in 2009.

CONFRONT: Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years from now as an artist?

Daniel: I hope to be a better, more creative version of myself, consistently releasing new music. Also, throw in a clothing line, branded lunch boxes and my own champagne for good measure.

If you’d like to learn more about Daniel Ghattas, check him out at any of the links below:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniel-Ghattas/16241944089

CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danielghattas

Itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/daniel-ghattas/id284148389

MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/danielghattas

–