danielevansofficial.com Daniel Evans XFactor Finalist 2008

Don’t just listen to music…FEEL it!

After making an emotional impact on the XFactor TV show back in 2008 Daniel has been working hard bringing his unique brand of heartfelt music to new audiences around Europe. He has performed on the number 1 charity single Hero, selling over 800,000 copies in the UK and on 2009 completed a sell out Nationwide arena tour, 34 dates playing to over half a million people. Every step has been an adventure…and also a learning process for Daniel vocally and musically, working with some of the best arrangers, producers and vocal coaches, not to mention some amazing musicians along the way.

Now Daniel is back to doing what he does best; writing, playing and singing how, in his words, a good song should be sung, with Heart, Soul and Passion…

“Music is something that has always been in my life from a young age through my father who was an amazing singer, but it was not until the XFactor show that I was able to perform on the big stage, and to a viewing audience of 14 million every week too!

And that in turn has given me the chance to fulfil a dream and make a truly emotional and heartfelt album with real musicians and all my own arrangements.

I hope you will enjoy my music and my interpretations/arrangements. This is the real me. I truly believe a good song has to have Heart, Soul and Passion.

We have recorded this album with an independent label and a young but very talented producer and this has given me the freedom to record what I feel are stunning songs, songs that move you emotionally. I have found some real gems and some gorgeous old soul tracks, plus a few other surprises in there, and of course, a few of the most popular tracks I performed on the X Factor TV show… Each and every song I have chosen has at some time been part of the soundtrack of my life, and I hope you guys love these as much as I do. It’s been a dream of mine to do an album…I guess you could say its the last step on my X Factor journey, and to be able to choose, arrange and perform on songs that I really believe in has been amazing…I have been 100% involved with every aspect of the album from first conception to final printing, every note, every beat, every breath was decided on by me.

I hope you can take this journey that is this album with me…I’m so proud of it and by buying this you are also helping in a small way to support the Help for Heroes charity and thats something you can be proud of too…

I hope to meet some of you on tour soon…”

Daniel x

Find Daniel on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube or Twitter too (Links at the bottom right of the page)

The emotional and heartfelt album No Easy Way is out now!

Here are the links to buy online or download.

“Daniel has put together an amazing collection of songs sung from the Heart. The album was born in the hills of North Wales using talent from the local area who all helped to make this the heartfelt, sometimes heartbreaking and emotionally filled album that it is. Produced with the young, but extremely talented Richard James Roberts, the album has exceeded all expectations and despite its limited budget has produced a sound to make even the biggest studios sit up and listen. Daniel has had full control from conception to final disk, every note, sound and beat has been chosen with care by Daniel. These are from the heart and you can hear that from the first track to the last… If you liked what you heard before, well, as they say in showbiz, you aint seen nothing yet! This is Daniel, this is Real Music, sung as it should be, with Heart, Soul and Passion…” Excerpt from amazon.co.uk site.

As some of you out there may know, in 2008 I competed in the X Factor TV show (but please don’t let that put you off!) and after completing a sold out X Factor arena tour in 2009 I decided to make an album. And I have made it completely independently. A family friend (Dino Pierce) recommended a young but extremely talented producer (Richard James Roberts) who really pushed me to be the best I can be and allowed me full freedom and control to do it my way, plus we were lucky enough to find some phenomenal local musicians who poured their hearts into this project sometimes for only a few beers and some petrol money…

I have not used my own songs on this album (apart from one small “interlude” track), even though I do have many written, I felt it would be presumptuous to put those onto the public just yet, and it was important for people for feel familiar with the songs they were hearing so there was an instant connection with the listener, albeit with different arrangements.

And these arrangements I have done myself, I also produced a couple of the tracks, I played keys on some tracks, backing vocals on most and did some programming on a few too. It has been an emotional journey as there are a few tracks that I performed on the TV show and also a mixture of genres and songs that have at some point been the soundtrack to my life. But I have been 100% involved with every aspect of the album from conception to sleeve design and final printing, every note, every beat, every breath was chosen or decided on (and financed) by me.

I only ask that you have listen to the album and forget what you may have heard or seen before. A lot of people judge me from what they saw from the show, but this is the real me and I hope you will be pleasantly surprised as many so far have been.

We have tried to keep it as real as my budget would allow and steer clear of auto tuning, computer enhancements and such that are now inherent in today’s pop songs.

I wanted an album that the listener can hear every breath, every nuance of the vocal and all the emotion therein. I think it’s important with this kind of music for the Heart, Soul and Passion of a track to come across and I believe we have achieved that with a big studio sound on a very tight budget.

Some highlights from the album are Open Arms, this was released back in January and was a popular one from the show, as was To Where You Are which has an amazing dynamic to it.

My Baby You is a big pop ballad with a big sound or if you like a bit of Jazz, Maria has a smooth jazz feel with an amazing saxophone performance from legendary sax player Snake Davis. The title track No Easy Way is an old soul track I re-arranged and Broken Vow taps in to the classical genre. Wherever You Will Go is the most mainstream radio friendly track and adds a touch of pop/rock to the album.

This is an album you “feel” as well as listen to…I only hope it moves you as much as it moves me…

With love…

Daniel  x

Ok guys, thanks so much for your continued support. Here is what is probably the last Dan Cam from behind the scenes in the studio. As you can see we have a lot of fun but it is also hard work. I love the creative process, even though they are covers (apart from 1), they are my interpretations/versions and its great when it all comes together. Big thanks to Rich the producer who always pushes me to be the best I can be (and to avoid autotune!!) and to the local people of North Wales who have lent their talents and made this album the emotional heart felt album that it now is…There is a lot of love here, and you can hear it in the tracks…

Much Love…

X Factor 2009 is now in full swing (with some amazing performances already on the show) and I’m watching with genuine nervs for the contestants as it reminds of my own time on there and I cant help but appreciate even more what an amazing experience it was.

One of the questions I get asked more than most (apart from what is Simon really like) is “has it changed your life?” and “how are you doing?” and I’m glad to say I am doing really well. I may not be in the public eye but I earn a good living doing something that I love and that’s all thanks to the show so I will be forever grateful for that chance, I always look at it like this, if I can pay my bills each month, I’m happy and so far I’m lucky that that is the case…I just hope this years contestants appreciate how lucky they are to be there specially if you make it to the live shows. And for the record, Mr.Cowell is actually a really nice guy.

As in life, nothing is guaranteed so you just need to make the most and enjoy the chances you get because they may never come back round again.

I also got the chance to record an album with and independent label and I have had full control of all its content, which has been pretty cool.

Will it be rivalling JLS in the charts? I doubt that very much as I cant afford a publicity campaign or distribution but I’m confident I will earn a small living from it plus I have something to be proud of, something that can show what I can do with songs that I have chosen and that I love. You just need to have realistic expectations of what to expect when you start out after a show like X Factor. I think it has to be about the music, not about the fame or celebrity side or you will be in for a shock.

It’s a tough business, but I hope to show you don’t need a multi million pound label to get good music out there, just some belief in yourself, belief in what your doing, some great fans and a bit of talent helps.

Coming out of the show at first was a bit of a shock to the system after living in the X Factor bubble for so long. I never expected so much press and attention…and people who I never met before saying “Hi Daniel!” and “How’s your Daughter” in the street never fails to make me smile. I honestly had no idea how people would be with me as I avoided press, Internet and TV and concentrated on getting through week by week.

Its so good to know that so many people supported me and it’s the fans at the end of the day that kept me in so long so let me just say thank you to all my fans, supporters and voters…because of you I have a job I love and that’s why when I’m asked for an autograph or photo I will do everything possible to make it happen…and that is something that will never change. I always try to reply personally to fans on my website and Facebook, Twitter etc and as long as I have time to, I always will. I just think its good to have some personal connection with fans if possible.

Some of the letters and messages I have received from fans have been amazing. A lot of people who had similar experiences wrote to me saying how my story helped them cope with their loss…you cant help but be humbled by that. And that fact that I somehow inspired others was very moving and unexpected.

My first few gigs after I left the show were nerv racking, I would turn up at venues expecting a few people there and the place would be packed and calling my name. This old guy from X factor had people chanting for him…now that is a nice feeling I can tell you. (Although they weren’t all like that lol!!)

On of my better gigs was a club in Newcastle, everyone at least half my age, and I was really nervous. I honestly think people expect me to sing old ballads all night, and it was nice to be able to sing some funk and soul and get the crowd dancing. It ended up being an amazing night. On the show you don’t get to pick your own songs, if your lucky you get a choice of 2 or 3, so to be able to do gigs and choose my own stuff is great as it gives you the chance to show what you can do away from the TV show. Obviously I perform a few from the show but only the most popular ones.

The X factor tour was amazing too, that was something I’ll never forget, to sing at Wembley stadium and shout “Hello Wembley!!!!” in front of 20 thousand people, now that’s something special. And it was great to work with such amazing musicians and get the chance to sing without the pressure of phone votes and judges. That was the icing on the cake for me.
When I was told I made it on the tour, I had no idea what to expect, I thought it was a few X Factor gigs around some pubs and clubs. Imagine my surprise when I found out we had a 32 date sold out arena show!!…

Another question asked a lot is, “what’s it like being famous or a celeb” and it always makes me laugh, Peter or Katie, now they’re celebs, not me. I just don’t see myself like that. I’m just a guy who was lucky enough to do an amazing show and was on the telly for a bit. Maybe it’s being older makes it all easier to deal with and my daughter certainly keeps me grounded. I go from a gig in a suit to changing nappies within 24 hours!

I’ve heard some past contestants talk negatively about the show.
I think it’s shame when I read stuff like that. I do think Steve Brookstein was treated badly by Sharon in particular, and in turn that spoiled what should have been his special moment. But apart from that, how can you not enjoy the whole experience?….it certainly made me a stronger person, but again, maybe its my age that helped. Think people should see it as TV show that occasionally finds talent…Not a talent show for TV if you know what I mean.

Contestants need to see it as a platform that gives you the most immense publicity in the shortest possible time, and they need to take their moment, enjoy it and make the most of everything that comes from it. Take nothing for granted and be grateful. There is nothing in the contract that guarantees you a long and fulfilling career.

I feel lucky to have done some of the amazing things I did and those great memories will be with me forever. I once heard a saying that says life is not measured by the breaths you take but the times that take your breath away and I had many on the show and the tour.

I have recently finished recording my album with an independent label, with some songs from the show and also some of my own versions/interpretations of some beautiful tracks that have at some point been part of the soundtrack to my life.
I have spent a lot of time up in North Wales and have found some amazing talent there who have contributed on the album (in fact, I’m the only non-welsh person on the album!) and they really have helped to make it what it is, and I’m proud of the work they have done. I hope you guys like it!

Looking back now, I can’t help but think “wow”.
I’ve shared a stage with true professionals and some legends too, worked with some of the best musicians and coaches in the business, sang live to a weekly viewing population of 12 million plus, 6 weeks in a row, and completed a sold out arena tour of the UK. You’d have to be a bit mad to not appreciate that!

Big thanks to the amazing fans and this crazy show.

You just can’t help but love the X Factor! Its mad, amazing, emotional, moving and inspirational.

And yes, it can change your life….

x