Have You Heard: Daniel Champagne

Now based in Nashville, Daniel Champagne performs at Mojos on Wednesday, March 9; Settlers Tavern, Margaret River, on Thursday, March 10; York's Palace Hotel on Friday, March 11, and the Prince of Wales, Bunbury, on Saturday, March 12.

It sounds as though there was never a chance that you would do anything other than play music. Can you recall the very first time you picked up a guitar and the feelings you felt for it?

I'm not sure when I picked it up but my first memory of anything was watching my Dad's band rehearse when I was about 4. He was up the front singing and playing the guitar and I thought it looked like the most powerful point in the room and I always wondering what that would feel like.

By 18 you hit those long and dusty roads. How important was doing this in terms of becoming the artist and performer you are today?

It was vital. I started out playing in the corner of rural pubs all around Australia surrounded by TV screens showing the footy. Nobody was there to watch me so I had to learn to make them listen. Which meant really performing and connecting to convince them that this was something worth the attention. I probably played a thousand of those show and that's not exaggerating - so now any theatre or festival stage feels pretty safe.

What was it like moving to Nashville and carving your own presence there?

Nashville is an incredible scene. And the prospect of moving there was both exiting and a little intimidating. Everyone knows that America can be tough for Australian musicians but I really do believe in what I'm doing here and I'm lucky to have some amazing people working around me that feel the same. I never thought I would be living in Nashville and touring so much all over North America, but it's something I'm very thankful for.

Originally published to X-Press Magazine