Dan Mangan in profile: Lyrical ruminations

At the tender age of seven, Dan Mangan’s first goal was to memorize and recite Abbey Road’s side ‘B’. At 17, it was to record his first EP. Now, at 24, it’s to meander into the stereo and hometown of music lovers worldwide. With the recent release of his debut full-length, Postcards and Daydreaming, five recently completed tours of the US, UK and Australia – including a feature in the Brit-tastemaker magazine, NME – and let’s not forget the umpteen festival performances (SXSW, MusExpo, The Great Escape, NXNE, etc.), one could definitely say he’s off to a good start.
For your listening pleasure, here’s a great track “So Much For Everyone” – my personal favourite – off of Dan’s album Postcards and Daydreaming:

Click below to play!

Dan Magnan – So Much For Everyone

And if you love that, you’ll love the whole album – available at CD Baby, of course!

Tying together the roots of acoustic folk and subtle symphonic pop, Postcards & Daydreaming is unabashedly mellow. However, it’s Mangan’s powerful, weatherbeaten vocals that hint at something epic lurking in the undertones. Influenced both by songsmiths of old (Nick Drake, Woody Guthrie) and sonic innovators of late (Neutral Milk Hotel, Sigur Ros). Mangan’s “old soul” rings clear through his lyrical ruminations on both the harmful capabilities and intrinsic beauty of human foibles. Think Kurt Vonnegut with a gravelly sweet singing voice. “As an artist, I feel that when you are writing, no matter the medium or style, you should always be saying something,” said Mangan, from his home in Vancouver, BC.

“It doesn’t have to be as significant as changing the world, but it should be important to you.”

Mangan has a great appreciation for power of words and a deep admiration for writers of all kinds. Not one to stay safely inside the singer/songwriter box, he has collaborated with spoken word artist Shane Koyczan, performed alongside acclaimed storyteller Ivan Coyote and Canadian hype machines Patrick Watson,
The Acorn and DJ Champion. Dan has also been featured on the Bravo! television network and has been a regular go-to artist for XM Satellite Radio’s “The Verge” – where his seven-minute fan-fave “So Much For Everyone” became the channel’s fourth most requested song in July alongside The Dears and The Meligrove Band. To follow Postcards and Daydreaming‘s Canadian release (FU:M / Outside), Mangan’s initial effort saw a November 6th ‘07 release in the USA (FU:M / Nail) and spring releases throughout the UK and Australia. If Dan’s incessant touring in 2007 gave him the platform to approach an international audience, 2008 will
ensure that everybody is looking when he starts up those sweet, gravelly, ramblings.

Check him out at an upcoming gig in your area!
25 May 2008 20:00 CBC2 Canada Live @ The Penthouse Vancouver, BC
29 May 2008 20:00 The Can w/ Shane Koyczan Penticton, BC
31 May 2008 20:00 Sugarbowl w/ The Wheatpool & Jon Lovell Edmonton, AB
1 Jun 2008 20:00 Lydias w/ Smokekiller and Jen Lane Saskatoon, SK
3 Jun 2008 20:00 Lo Pub w/ All Of Your Friends Winnipeg, MB
7 Jun 2008 20:00 COCA Conference Ottawa, ON
9 Jun 2008 20:00 The Black Canvas Arnprior, ON
10 Jun 2008 20:00 Mercury Lounge w/ Said The Whale Ottawa, ON
11 Jun 2008 20:00 The Trepid House Waterloo, ON
12 Jun 2008 20:00 Call The Office w/ Hey Ocean! & Said The Whale London, ON
13 Jun 2008 20:00 The Rivoli (TMB / NXNE) Toronto, ON
14 Jun 2008 22:00 Savannah Room (NXNE) Toronto, ON
25 Jun 2008 20:00 Vancouver Jazz Festival @ The Media Club Vancouver, BC