Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Curcio.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Daniel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It all started when I turned 23 and got a call from my dad after not speaking for ten years. He told me I had an older brother living in Los Angeles he never told me about. I quickly connected with my brother who is a doctor at UCLA and headed to LA. About two weeks into the trip I met the best songwriter/guitarist I had ever met, Kyle Nicolaides. He had a gig at the Roxy the day I was supposed to leave LA. Right after we did the gig Kyle asked me to stay in town and let me stay with him to join the band. A month later, the band was signed under the name ‘Beware of Darkness’. A few months after that we started support tours internationally for bands I only dreamed of opening for such as Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones, Alice in Chains, Cage the elephant, etc. Within the same year, we debuted on late night with Conan o’ Brien, AXSTV, made top 20 on billboard rock radio and had songs placed in movies, commercials and television shows.
After a great three years, we went our separate ways (only to get back together a few years later). Not long after, I became a member of a band called ‘Sonny Boy Thorn’, started by Christopher Thorn (Blind Melon), Davie Dennis (Voxhaul Broadcast). SBT was one of the best bands I was ever a part of. I ended up eventually joining alt/rock band Atlas Genius not long after, who are widely known for their song ‘trojans’. We did many tours together including red rocks opening for incubus and jimmy eat world. A complete dream come true. We performed the newest single ’63 days’ on Late Night with Conan O Brien as well as an hour long performance special on Audience network. Shortly after that, I started touring with a band called ‘Palaye Royale’. When I started, the band traveled by van barely affording hotels. Fast forward three years of hard work- we just got off tour with Marilyn Manson and rob zombie, upgraded to a bus, and are midway through a mostly sold out large capacity European tour. We just played our biggest headline show to date two nights ago in London at Shepherds Bush Empire with a sold out 2000 tickets. This is also the first band I have been heavily involved in the writing process with as well, and I will forever be grateful for them believing in my ideas. Palaye Royale headlines The Wiltern May 29th, 2020.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was a very hard road, and it’s not over yet. I came from a small town in southern New Jersey where music was not really a thing to do, let alone a career. Not to mention my music teacher in high school told me music would never be a career for me, and if I didn’t learn jazz and how to read music fluently it would definitely never be a career for me. Well, my first audition was for Lady Gaga and they didn’t ask if I could read music. My parents divorced when I was really young and writing songs and playing music for me became more of an emotional outlet than anything else. My mom and I were pretty much homeless for a period of time. If it wasn’t for finding out about my long lost brother in LA, I’m not sure if I ever would have got out. And I thank God for him every day. But still, touring is hard work. No one really understands what touring is like and that makes it harder. People seem to think A. It’s a party B. It’s easy C. It’s a party. And it’s really none of those things. It’s hard work. It’s a 24-hour job. You are constantly moving, trying to keep track of your personal belongings, meeting with friends abroad, and all while giving 110% of everything you have on stage every night. And yes, it does come with some partying, but that just makes it harder so it’s a constant battle. So to round up my answer, it’s never a smooth ride, but it’s all beyond worth it. My favorite part of what I do is all the amazing relationships around the world I’ve made.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am primarily a bass player/guitarist. But I am also a songwriter, a singer, and I play the keys. I’ve been playing the bass guitar since I was seven years old, playing professionally for the past ten years. I guess you could say I’m known for always being busy and constantly working, I’m barely ever home and when I am writing or gigging around town. As for what sets me apart from other bass players- I don’t like to look too deep into it, but I know that I put everything I have into the instrument, I am schooled in jazz as well as rock, I always listen to the room, I make sure I stay aware in every situation I’m in, and I always like to have my own style clothes wise.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success by maintaining healthy and happy relationships and stability. Healthy relationships with my friends, my girlfriend, my family and a healthy relationship with music. However, If I’m not happy with a song or a show then I’m not always happy with myself. So it’s important to always give 100%. When I was younger, my idea of success was being on a stage like the electric factory in Philadelphia, near where I grew up, touring & traveling by tour bus. But now, as I’ve got older it’s a little less superficial and a little bit deeper than that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNRyeRA-zOI
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @danielcurcio
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwVmMazUZ1Y
Image Credit:
@sophiesheee, @matthuecole, @alanaalion, @luisrodphotography, @kiiarens
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