There’s something about city life that shapes and reshapes a person’s perspective. Sights, sounds, smells – really the totality of a city environment – have an influence, whether instilling a sense of excitement and wonder or causing anxiety and unhappiness.
Few cities have a more dramatic effect than New York City. Just ask singer-songwriter Kevin Daniel. “City That Savesâ€, a track from his most recent ep Things I Don’t See, is a deeply personal letter to the city in which he lives.
Daniel explains:Â
“City that Saves†was shot on location at Degraw Sound in Brooklyn, NY. When I moved to NYC 10 years ago I told myself I’d never write a song about New York. I think eventually you don’t have much say in the matter as the City eventually changes you and becomes a part of you. When I lost my parents in a plane crash seven years ago, I went to a dark place. It wasn’t the city that turned on me, it was myself. I rarely left my apartment and decided the cold was too much for me. Ultimately, it was the city itself which called me back on to the streets. I started playing again, going out again, seeing people again. I adopted a dog and started to wander the streets of Brooklyn, discovering new people and places along the way. “City That Saves†is my thank you to New York City for saving me from the darkness that threatened my mental stability. It’s one of the hardest places to live in the USA, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. The song is also an homage to my family’s roots, The swing rhythm and brass horn section pay tribute to New Orleans, where my father and mother lived for almost a decade and the city in which my brother and sister were born.
Twangville is pleased to premiere the “City That Saves†video. You can hear the song live as Daniels heads out on tour this month. Check out the tour dates below.
Kevin Daniel Tour Dates
1/14 – Washington, DC @ DIVE*
1/15 – Charlotte, NC @ Evening Muse
1/16 – Knoxville, TN @ WDVX Blue Plate Special (12pm EST)
1/16 – Asheville, NC @ Isis Music Hall
1/17 – Starkville, MS @ Hobie’s on Main
1/19 – Franklin, TN @ The Legendary Kimbros
1/20 – Tupelo, MS @ Blue Canoe
1/21 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement
1/23 – New Orleans, LA @ Neutral Ground*
1/24 – Jackson, MS @ Hal and Mal’s
1/26 – New Orleans, LA @ Folk Alliance International*
*Kevin Daniel only
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.