Today we’d like to introduce you to Loui Daniels.
Hi Loui, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I learned about theatre and the arts growing up. I also started singing at a very young age. It all started with classical and contemporary vocal training. From elementary up until my college years I had participated in multiple choirs. In my Catholic high school, I was known as “that choir/thespian kid” that everyone knows. I would sing in every mass and participate in every play or musical show that was offered there to me. Outside of school activities I went and competed in various vocal competitions from around the country and won various awards through contests such as NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and CS Music.
As I got older, I started developing a mixed taste in music ranging from the old to the new from bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Genesis, and Yes; to modern bands like Muse, Radiohead, and the Killers. I borrowed a lot of these musical tastes from my father and older sister who has a great ear for music. They love the classics. And I was so fascinated with what I was hearing in their playlists. Eventually, I grew a passion to be an alternative rock artist which didn’t happen officially until the chaos that started in the year 2020.
During the era of the pandemic I was just a struggling actor like many. I had just received my BA theatre degree from FIU the year before. But after the first year, there were problems. I couldn’t find any work because everything had shut down. The entertainment business was dead for quite a while. It was frustrating and eventually my interest for acting had descended by the day. I was doubting myself and worried about what my future would look like. My self-esteem was heavily affected and I felt totally lost. But on the flip side I was living in isolation for so long only to realize that I can really take my time and plan what my next move should be. I had a lot of time to gather my thoughts. So with that, I began to write some songs. Then I started playing these new songs at local venues and open mics where I would receive some praise and be asked to come back to play again. This was when businesses in the music scene started running up again.
I had a lot of great responses from people who have watched me perform. And because of my good friend, who is well respected in the local arts community, I got the opportunity to meet the best manager South Florida could ever offer. His name was John Tovar, also known as The Music Man who discovered artists such as Marilyn Manson, Nuclear Valdez, The Mavericks, The Goods, and many others that he had helped put on the map. I got the opportunity to meet him about a couple of years ago to talk about who I am as an artist and what goals I’m trying to achieve. We hit it off right away. He said that I have a very unique voice. He loved my songs, persona, influences, and he saw that I had a lot of potential to be great.So with his help I assembled a band and then he took me into the studio to record my first-ever album. I worked on the record for many months with him and of course, my collaborative producer Miguel Gonzalez, who is the owner of Purple Studio Productions, where we had recorded. He is a well-respected producer, songwriter, engineer, and studio session player. He had co-written and toured with artists like Brian Howe, the former lead singer of Bad Company, and Matt Kramer, the former singer of Saigon Kick. We had a bunch of recording sessions going on and every time we went through one, we never wasted any time and always executed what needed to be done.
Unfortunately, John had passed away back in May due to health reasons. But his spirit gives me a lot of strength to keep going just like when he was still around. I’m more determined now than ever to keep it going and I know he will be proud of me. I will never quit. Never! I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in right now if it wasn’t for his guidance. I have an amazing team he assembled for me before he went. I have my consultant Jessica Alvarez from Syncmusica who’s helping me put together a campaign for my album release.
I’m also getting more involved with gigging. So I’ll say right now I’m at a good place in my career. With Jessi’s help, I had already released my first single back in June which is called “World Gone Mad.” Make sure to check it out! It’s got great reviews! You can find it on my socials or streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Finances: A nightmare for artists. Yeah, being an artist with highly ambitious goals can be very expensive. There are a lot of things that tag along to that: whether it’s paying for studio time, paying for session players, compensating your band that plays for your originals, or travel. There are ways around it. I’ve learned to take a step back and hold myself accountable for whatever I spend so I can reach my goal in a much smoother and more organized fashion.
Trust is another thing too. There are quite a lot of grimy people involved in the music industry who use artists solely for their money to pay their bills and leave projects under the rug unfinished, not believing in their talent. I came across someone like that as expected early on but due to that awful experience, I’ve learned from it and become way more careful and aware of my surroundings. It’s something every artist will go through more than likely in their journey. But think of it as a wake-up call. It’s something we all have to go through so pray it doesn’t happen so late to the point whereyou’ve already made it to the big leagues. Be very careful with who you’re working with. Protect your songs! If you’re working with those who require a contract or agreement form but instead ask for a handshake, avoid that immediately. Run out the door as fast as you can.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well, I work at a pool retail store owned by my family. There’s nothing really interesting about it to me. I don’t love it if I’m being honest. But it pays well.
Let’s say, I’m a pool boy by day and a rock performer by night. Most artists have either 2 or 3 jobs to keep their groove on whether it’s music related or not. If I’m not cleaning pools, I’m performing. If that’s all I needed to do to live my life comfortably I’d do it and nothing else.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
There are many qualities to name because I feel they are equally important but I’ll name a few. Patience is something you need to have if you want to succeed. It will take a long time for most artists to get their break they wanted. Having confidence is also a must. You have to have confidence on the stage and connect with your audience. There’s no room for weakness as John Tovar would always tell me.
And let’s not forget about communication. That’s also something you want to keep yourself in line with, especially with your manager if you have one. It’s always good to know what’s going on and what’s in the schedule. It will build better relationships with those you are working or collaborating with. Also it will show a good lasting impression that you’re responsible and have it together.
Contact Info:
- Website: Louidanielsmusic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/louidanielsmusic?
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louidanielsmusic
- Twitter: https://x.com/loui_daniels?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@louidanielsmusic?si=u2D7zibtbwgCV1vU
- Other: https://www.reverbnation.com/louidaniels
Image Credits
Loui Daniels, Manager John Tovar, Producer Miguel Gonzalez, Avery Linderman: Lead guitar player Oscar Dorta, Drummer Miguel Gonzalez, and Consultant Jessica Alvarez from Syncmusica.
