2015 is proving to be a memorable year for Dane Davenport. A singer-songwriter in the vein of Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Damien Rice, Davenport will soon embark on a tour of the US, UK, Europe and Australia to support his new album Time, Space and Paperclips. Davenport has roots in Johnson County, KS, and is a mainstay of the Kansas City music scene. For this edition of Listen Local, Davenport talks about upcoming album, his Kickstarter campaign and his recording process.
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Tell us about yourself. Where do you reside? How long have you been a musician and songwriter?
My name is Dane Davenport and I am a singer/songwriter. I grew up in Johnson County and you’ll still find me somewhere around Kansas City playing or listening to live music when I’m not touring. When I was ten I started playing guitar and started writing my own material a few years after that. Slowly over time, music became my career.
Describe your songwriting process. Who or what inspires you?
There are many different approaches to songwriting and I employ as many of them as I can. Some songs stem from an idea or concept that gets worked and reworked. Then there are songs that come out straight from the gut and I'm rarely aware of the underlaying emotions I had until after I write it. Finally there are the songs that seem to appear in my head fully formed and I just have to write them down. That last kind of song is the rarest but they are often the most special.
Countless artists inspire me. Irish singer/songwriters like Glen Hansard and Damien Rice have been some of the biggest. There is something very raw and honest about their performances. Paul Simon has songs I still find new layers to uncover, even after I’ve heard it a hundred or more times.
Inspiration can come from anywhere though. People, places, movies, things people said, or what they didn’t say have all seeded ideas for songs. Songwriting is an integral part of who I am. I write constantly and not knowing where your next song will come from is half the fun!
Where do you perform?
Dozens of venues locally, regionally, nationally, and soon internationally. The RecordBar and Coda in Kansas City are a couple of my favorites. I recently took a break from touring to record my new album but I am looking forward to getting back out on the road with soon-to-be-announced tours in the US, UK, Europe, and Australia, and of course I’ll be playing a lot more around Kansas City in the coming months as well.
Where do you record your music? What advice do you have for others who want to do the same?
Over the years I’ve recording in my bedroom, the woods, friend’s basements, a couple local studios, and most recently a big professional studio in Nashville. I love recording live. I have several live videos taken at various local venues up on my website (danedavenport.com).
I flew to Nashville, TN to record my new album Time, Space, & Paperclips. When the opportunity came to collaborate with some of the best studio musicians in the country for my first full length album, I couldn’t say no. I result is my best work yet and I can’t wait for the rest of the world to hear it later this year!