Dan Whitehouse

Dan Whitehouse (born 9 March 1979) is an English folk musician.[1] He is known for his distinctive voice and understated songwriting, and uses specially adapted instruments for people with disabilities.[2][3] His 2012 album Reaching for a State of Mind was made with percussionist Chip Bailey, a collaborator of Duke Special, and won critical acclaim as having lyrical vulnerability and imaginative musical settings.[2][4]

Dan Whitehouse
Born (1979-03-09) 9 March 1979
OriginWolverhampton, England
GenresSinger-songwriter, Folk music
Years active1997–present
LabelsTiger Dan Records
Sotones
The Heantun Recording Co.
Reveal Records
Websitedan-whitehouse.com

Music Republic Magazine described Whitehouse as "A triple threat, a fine songwriter, a unique vocal talent and a talented multi-instrumentalist/performer".[5]

Career

The son of a Wolverhampton community radio pioneer, Whitehouse was inspired by his father's record collection, gaining a "deep respect for song-writing technique".[6]
After stints performing with Naomi (1998–2000) and fronting rock band Sonara, who performed at Reading Festival,[7] Whitehouse went solo in 2007. He has since supported such acts as Maria McKee, Julian Cope, Peter Green, Josh Ritter, Caitlin Rose, 10cc, World Party, Joseph Arthur, Willy Mason and Simone Felice, as well as Eddi Reader, The Little Unsaid, Kris Drever and Joan As Policewoman.[8]

Whitehouse released his debut record, the seven-track The Balloon EP, in 2009. This was followed by The Bubble EP later that year. Lead track, You Can't Give Me Anymore, was described as being reminiscent "of waves crashing on a beach."[9] The track also featured Dan's first collaboration with pedal steel guitar player B. J. Cole.

His final release of 2009 was The Box EP. Collectively, the three 2009 EPs form a trilogy exploring themes of "life, love, loss and happiness."[10]

Whitehouse's self-titled debut album was released in 2012, and was partially recorded in the songwriter's flat over a period of time with acoustic instrumentation.[6] The album also included Theremin, an electric screwdriver, and, on the song "My Stupid Face", ambient sounds recorded at Birmingham shopping centre the Bullring. ."[11]

In 2013, Whitehouse released his more ambitious second full album, Reaching for a State of Mind. Recorded in a professional studio with producer Michael Clarke and a full band, notable guests included Ezio guitarist Booga, Helen Lancaster from folk act The Old Dance School, Fairport Convention's PJ Wright, and Duke Special's percussionist Chip Bailey. The album's 11 tracks were culled from an initial long-list of 35 home-recorded demos".[6]

Despite the inclusion of two notable folk musicians, the album is described as sitting "within a fairly wide spectrum of pop-rock-folk-Americana-roots influences."[12]
Artree described the album as "more intricately crafted and refined" than previous work, and a "musical evolution."[13]

The album was launched at The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, in September 2013, with a special guest appearance from Duke Special.[14] The show was a sell-out.[15] After an opening solo set, Duke later joined Whitehouse on stage for a version of Neil Young's Helpless.[16]

Four previously unreleased tracks recording during the Reaching for a State Of Mind sessions were later released as Reaching for a Further State of Mind EP.[17]

In 2014, Whitehouse toured North America for the first time with accordion-playing German-American singer-songwriter Anja McCloskey, and released a joint-EP, Still,[18] which was recorded in Birmingham.[19] The two met while at university together in London, and Anja has described their collaboration as "alternative folk."[20]

During August 2014, Whitehouse performed at Moseley Folk Festival between The Felice Brothers and Richard Thompson where he performed material from his third album Raw State. The album features both new tracks and reimagined versions of previously released songs, and was produced by Danny George Wilson and Chris Clarke of Danny and the Champions of the World. The album continues Dan's collaboration with B. J. Cole.[21]

Whitehouse signed to Reveal Records for his fourth album, 2016's Introducing.[22] He also released a series of EPs, the fourth of which, EP 4: Sings Boo, saw Dan tackle songs either written wholly by, or co-written by Boo Hewerdine.

During 2016/2017, Whitehouse began working with Birmingham-based singer-songwriter and pianist Danielle Cawdell on her debut recording.[23] The album, Silence Set Me Free was released in February 2018 with Whitehouse acting as producer and co-writer, as well as playing on the tracks.[24]

Dreamland Tomorrow

After four years, Whitehouse's third album for Reveal was released in May 2020. Entitled Dreamland Tomorrow the 22 track collection was produced by Boo Hewerdine and Reveal record label boss Tom Rose, and featured contributions from John Elliott (The Little Unsaid), Eric Lane (Joan As Police Woman) minimalist composer Richard J. Birkin, Emily Barker, and BBC Jazz Award winning Saxophonist Xhosa Cole.[5][25]

The album was pulled together from a collection of around 70 demos. Disc 1 is described as "experimental" while disc 2 is "rawer, more live setting".[5]

FolkRadio stated that Dreamland Tomorrow unveiled "a strikingly new maturity and willingness to push the envelope," which saw Whitehouse "adopting an experimental approach and more expansive sound palette."[25] NorthernSky observed the experimental material was "reminiscent of Scott Walker’s more adventurous exploits"[26] while England On Sunday asked "is Dan Whitehouse the David Bowie of folk?"[27]

The release was complemented by the 6-track Dreamland Live EP, featuring live versions of selected album tracks, alongside several remixes, including Tomorrow by Gustaf Ljunggren.[28][29]

Dan extended the textural approach featured on the first part of the album for his soundtrack to Charlie Chaplin's The Vagabond - a commission for Birmingham Comedy Festival 2020.[30]

Sound

Dan Whitehouse's music has been described as "romanticist folk"[31] and "alternative folk rock on a grand imposing scale".[32] South Wales Evening Post described Whitehouse as a "reflective songwriter ... a sensitive singer, with blues and folk leanings.".[33] He has also been compared to Nick Drake[34][35] and Richard Hawley, "an artist to whom he should both be justly compared and share the same sort of critical acclaim."[36] Reviewing Reaching For A State Of Mind, Folking praised the album's "searing honesty"[37]

Reviewing 2020's Dreamland Tomorrow, FRUK described Whitehouse as "a master craftsman and wordsmith."[25]

Whitehouse cites artists such as The Beatles, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Otis Redding, eels and John Grant as among his influences.[38]

Discography

EPs
Year Title Format Label
2009 The Balloon EP CD/Digital Tiger Dan Records
2009 The Bubble EP CD/Digital Tiger Dan Records
2009 The Box EP CD/Digital Tiger Dan Records
2014 Still (with Anja McCloskey) CD/Digital Sotones Records
2014 Reaching Further for a State of Mind Digital Tiger Dan Records
2016 EP1 Digital/CD Reveal Records
2016 EP2 Digital/CD Reveal Records
2016 EP3 Digital/CD Reveal Records
2016 Sings Boo EP (EP4) Digital/CD Reveal Records
2020 Dreamland Live Digital/CD Reveal Records

Albums
Year Title Format Label
2012 Dan Whitehouse CD/Digital Tiger Dan Records
2013 Reaching for a State of Mind CD/Digital Tiger Dan Records
2014 Raw State CD/Digital The Heantun Recording Co.
2016 Introducing CD/Digital Reveal Records
2016 That's Where I Belong CD/Digital Reveal Records
2020 Dreamland Tomorrow CD/Digital Reveal Records

Additional appearances
  • 2018: Silence Set Me Free – Danielle Cawdell (10-track album released via The Heantun Recording Co; co-writer, producer and musician)

References
  1. Anon. "Wolves Beat L-Z" Archived 1 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine Wolves Beat, Wolverhampton, date unknown. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  2. Farragher, Danny (19 August 2013). "DAN WHITEHOUSE CD Review Reaching for a State of Mind". Folk All. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  3. Knipe, Joe. "Album Review: Dan Whitehouse – Reaching For A State Of Mind". Artree.com. Artree. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  4. Roe, Janet M. (2 October 2013). "Reaching for a state of mind: Dan Whitehouse". Folking.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  5. Redley, Simon. "Reviews Zone: Dan Whitehouse: Dreamland Tomorrow" Music Republic Magazine, UK, May 2020. Retrieved on 9 July 2020.
  6. Freak, Dave. "Dan Whitehouse to launch album with gig at The Crescent Theatre" Birmingham Mail, Birmingham, 27 September 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  7. Anon. "Dan Whitehouse – The Balloon Ep – Official Launch Gig" Remote Goat, UK, 31 January 2009. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  8. Sanders, Leigh, "Wolverhampton Dan Whitehouse Joined by Boo Hewerdine..." Express and Star, UK, 9 November 2018.
  9. Comfort Comes. "Review: Dan Whitehouse – Where is The Love?" Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Comfort Comes, UK, 18 November 2009. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  10. "Dan Whitehouse - Bubble EP - RoomThirteen - Online Rock Metal Alternative Music Magazine - Reviews Interviews News Tours". Roomthirteen.com. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  11. "Dan Whitehouse's saucer inspiration" Coventry Telegraph, Coventry, 13 April 2012. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  12. Freak, Dave. "An Interview with Dan Whitehouse" Folk Radio UK, UK, 21 August 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  13. Knipe, Joe. "Album Review: Dan Whitehouse – Reaching For A State Of Mind" Artree, UK, undated. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  14. Vincent, David. "Dan Whitehouse at The Crescent Theatre" Weekend Notes, UK, September 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  15. Farragher, Danny. "Dan Whitehouse Live Review Crescent Theatre, Birmingham" FolkAll, UK, 1 October 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  16. Davies, Mike. "Mike Davies October 2013" Roots And Branches, UK, 1 October 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  17. "Reaching Further For A State Of Mind". Dan-whitehouse.com. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  18. Slater, Aaron. "Interview: Anja McCloskey" Songwriting Magazine, UK, 17 September 2014. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  19. Dhillon, Arandeep Singh. "Manchester 'one of the world’s music capitals', says singer Dan Whitehouse" Mancunian Matters, Manchester, 23 February 2014. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  20. Barnes, Adrian. "Anja McCloskey talks music in advance of free Rossland show" The Rossland Telegraph, Canada, 21 January 2014. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  21. Andrew, Simon. "Sound and Vision: Dan Whitehouse. Beat Surrender, UK, 14 August 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  22. "Dan Whitehouse - Introducing". Discogs.com. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  23. "ANNIE KEATING, Danielle Cawdell @Kitchen Garden Cafe, Kings Heath 27/6/17". Maximumvolumemusic.com. 27 June 2017.
  24. "Danielle Cawdell talks ahead of Birmingham show". Whatsonlive.co.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  25. Davies, Mike. "Dan Whitehouse: Dreamland Tomorrow", FolkRadioUK, UK, 20 April 2020. Retrieved on 09 July 2020.
  26. Wilkinson, Allan. "Dan Whitehouse - Dreamland Tomorrow", Northern Sky Reviews, UK, 2 June 2020. Retrieved on 9 July 2020.
  27. Walker, Derek. "CD Of The Week: Dan Whitehouse - Dreamland Tomorrow", England On Sunday, UK, 5 July 2020. Retrieved on 9 July 2020.
  28. "Dan Whitehouse Releases", Reveal Records, UK. Retrieved on 9 July 2020.
  29. "Dan Whitehouse", Bandcamp. Retrieved on 9 July 2020.
  30. Vincent, David. "Leading Brum musicians set for comedy festival line-up", BrumNotes, Birmingham, UK, 3 October 2020. Retrieved on 4 October 2020.
  31. Lloyd, Clementine. "Simone Felice @ Bush Hall, London 10.04.14", Bearded Magazine, UK, 9 April 2014. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  32. Russell, Ben. "Band of the Day #63 – Dan Whitehouse", Counteract Magazine, UK, 9 May 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  33. Anon. "Dan Whitehouse Plays Swansea's Noah's Yard...", South Wales Evening Post, Swansea, 17 October 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  34. De Luna, Alejandro. "Simone Felice Live ...", Gigslutz, UK, 10 April 2014. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  35. De Luna, Alejandro. "Simone Felice @ Bush Hall" Archived 2014-06-19 at the Wayback Machine, The Sense Of Doubt, UK, 16 April 2014. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  36. Davies, Mike. "Mike Davies September 2013". Roots And Branches, September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  37. Roe, Janet M. "Reaching for a state of mind: Dan Whitehouse", Folking, UK, 2 October 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
  38. Robertshaw, Spencer. "Dan Whitehouse : Interview", Penny Black Music, UK, 27 August 2012. Retrieved on 22 September 2014.
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