Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Schiz.
Hi Dan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started playing guitar when I was 12 just as a way to write my own songs and express myself. I played in various bands in college and paid my dues playing in clubs, bars and even at weddings. In 2016, I threw everything I owned into my Honda Civic and moved to Los Angeles, sight unseen. A few months later, I was fortunate enough to win the Battle for Van’s Warped Tour that summer with my former band, We’re No Gentlemen. I knew I had made the right decision and that LA is where I belong. Ever since then, I’ve been co-writing music, doing session work, and playing live for various artists.
I’m excited to finally launch my solo career and share my own unique voice to the world. The project not only is a vehicle for me to express myself musically and visually, but it is also my way of giving back. With each release, I will promote a charity that I believe in. For my first single, “Save Me (Kill My Heart)”, I will donate all proceeds to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The single will be out on all digital platforms on December 3rd, 2021.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road has been anything but smooth or linear. I’m gonna come out the gate and say that my mother committed suicide when I was 17. But the struggles and tragedies did not end there. An underlying theme of my art has been how past trauma has affected my life as an adult in ways that I wouldn’t expect. It has affected my relationship with myself and others and often tries to deter me on my path to success. I believe that truly knowing yourself and educating yourself on managing your mental health will help give you confidence to go for what you really want. I think that when you identify what your life’s purpose is and what your values are, you can live each day with intention and meaning.
In addition to this, I would say that living in Los Angeles as an artist is a struggle. I love LA and I’ve met the most amazing people here, but the entertainment business is not for the faint of heart. You’ve got to be tough, flexible, and have a great work ethic, but there’s a lot more to it than just that too. It can be unfair and heartbreaking. Going back to what I said previously, I believe that once you’ve identified your vision, realize that you do have value and focus on bringing that vision to life. I work to inspire and impact others in a positive way. To make people not feel alone. If I can help just one person with my art, then all the struggle in the world is worth it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a guitarist, songwriter, & lyricist. I specialize in using my guitar in ways that are outside of the box. I use chord voicings that are not traditionally used in rock or pop music as well as create combinations of effects to make my guitar sound like another instrument. A lot of people question whether the guitar is dead and I believe that it is just the beginning. There is boundless potential for the instrument and I aim to unlock as much of that as I can. I’m the guy who is known for making weird sounds.
Despite all the weirdness, I strive to write the most emotive and honest music that I can. When I see everyone go right, I go left, but at the same time, I don’t want to alienate my audience. My work is a balancing act between writing great catchy hooks and obscure ideas. I want to be known for being unapologetically me, but also someone that people can relate to.
I’m proud of all of the collaborations that I’ve had over the years. Whether it’s writing music, recording in the studio, or playing a high-energy live show, it’s the people who I’ve shared the experiences with that made it the most special. Music is fun because it’s mostly a bunch of nerdy introverts working as a team.
Some highlights: playing the Las Vegas date of Warped Tour 2016 with We’re No Gentlemen, recording the upcoming Black Mail House record, and working with all the people involved with my solo project.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I believe that the most important quality to success is recognizing your uniqueness. Don’t be like anyone else. You can meditate, reflect, pray, eat a bowl of ice cream. Whatever it is, you need to do to figure out who you are, what you actually want to do on this spinning planet called Earth, and why you want to do it. However, the secret ingredient is that your “why” should not be a selfish reason. The reason why you should embark on any endeavor should be to help others and benefit society as a whole. To be truly genuine, you must give back. Identify your purpose, pursue it with reckless abandon, and help others. If you do this, you will succeed.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.danschizmusic.com
- Instagram: @danschizmusic
- Facebook: facebook.com/dschiz
Image Credits
Edson Ochoa Raz Azraai (dancefloormurder)
