I write this from a Starbucks somewhere in downtown Los Angeles. I moved into a new apartment here this week and there seems to be a lot on my mind, so I thought I’d share a bit of that with you all. I’d like to start by saying that I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, as cheesy or taken from a line in The Notebook as that sounds. This is who I am. When I was 20 years old, my parents got divorced and a girl I really cared about, and still do care about decided to call it quits. I turned to writing music as an escape. After that, I wasn’t afraid of anything. It was as if nothing in this world could hurt me as much as the past month had. That’s when I started following tours, taking myself seriously, and building this fan base into what it is now. It was the toughest thing I have ever done following those tours by myself, but I’m so glad I did because it led to me to where I am now. I know in my heart that I created something special completely on my own. Fast forward to now…where I’ve boarded countless airplanes, driven thousands of miles in vans and rental cars, and yet the single thought that keeps me going is the fact that I’ll end up in a place where people appreciate my music. Being a touring musician in every aspect is bittersweet and lonely. You chase what kills you. You love what you hate. Don’t get me wrong, I have so much love and appreciation for every single one of you who has provided me with this lifestyle, and I have such a different outlook on life because of it, but as I’m sure all of you have felt at one point or another it’s very easy to question yourself sometimes and feel bummed out about the way things go. It all gets a little overwhelming sometimes, and this is my attempt at being honest as I can be with you guys. I really believe that my music could help a lot of people, and you guys have proven that to me in every conversation we’ve had at a show or through your letters. I live for those moments. I count down and wake up every day for the opportunity to do it all over again. Maybe it’s true that I’m not the most talented musician, and maybe for whatever reason I’ve rubbed a few people the wrong way, but one thing I can proudly say is that I’ve personally written some honest songs that people believe in, I’ve seen a lot/met a lot of incredible people through them, and I’ve built a future for myself that I can only pray you all will be apart of. It would mean everything to have you in it, despite what you may hear or believe from others. It’s been very hurtful reading people say things about me when they have no knowledge of the situation. I keep telling myself I need to just focus on the people who matter and the ones who know me as I really am, not what others make up. Maybe things will work out, and maybe they won’t. I don’t know. And maybe it’s true that all we really are, and all we’ll ever be is just pictures that fade away but right now, during this time of my life…I want those pictures to be with the people who love and support me most. And I think that’s a really great thing to look forward to.
Someone once told me you should never waste your time trying to explain yourself to those who are committed to misunderstanding you, but when it comes to some of the people who have been supporting me since day one, I feel like I owe this to you guys. I know there are some rumors going around that I’ve changed recently, or at least some of you have heard I have, but I’m here to assure you that I’m still that awkward kid who came up to you with a pair of headphones outside a show. You guys, of all people, know how hard I worked to make the resolution tour a reality. I’ve gone through hell and back to achieve this dream of mine, and you know it to be true more than anyone. Even my own friends and family. But this has never been about me. It’s been about creating something special through me which I’m proud to call the Hello Highway family. The Hello Highway family is the most proud I’ve ever been of anything in my entire life, and it hurts not having you apart of it lately. I know you are curious as to what happened on the tour, and some of it I will share with you but a lot of it I won’t because it is personal to me and the other guys. I think it’s no surprise that there was a lot of tension between me and the guys of Fourth and Coast during the tour, most of it being centered around the fact that I felt like I was competing with them on a tour that I personally put a lot both financially and emotionally into. However, it was still wrong of me not to give them the recognition and credit they deserved during the tour and I’ve since apologized to them for that. They are some of my best friends, and I really wish things would have gone differently. Also, I’ve come to learn that no matter how hard you try, certain people are always going to try and tear you down and hate you for what you’ve built. I try my best to ignore those people, because 9 times out 10 it is their own self doubt or jealousy that drives their criticism. I just want you all to understand things a little bit better, and know that the last thing I would ever want to do is let the people who believe in me down. You guys have been there for me since day one, and I don’t want to take another step without you. It sucks that I have to tell you this in some blog post, but it was the only way I could really put into words how I feel. So, I’m sorry if what you heard upset you, and I’m sorry if I personally did something to make you upset, but I hope the people who have known me long before this tour ever happened can see through the misconceptions and understand where I was coming from. I really do appreciate you guys and all you’ve done for me.
Love,
Daniel
The thing with being an artist is that you’re always going to want more. More importantly, you’ll always have the heart to pursue it. As I sit in the back of this 12 passenger van, driving through the snow covered hills of Nebraska, I can’t help but think about my life, and how I got here. It’s a very bittersweet feeling when you finally get everything you ever wanted, but then find yourself not only wanting more, but praying it never ends. I always knew I loved playing music, but I used to only dream of people believing in mine. I think back to High School, when kids would laugh at the thought of me doing anything like I am now. I think back to 3 weeks ago, when I played a sold out show in New York City in front of close to a thousand people. I think about you guys, my fans. Finally, I find myself thinking how I’m in a 12 passenger van driving through snow covered hills of Nebraska. And how someway, somehow, it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be. I guess the point I’m trying to make from all this is that I hope you all find where you belong someday. It’s never going to be easy, but we each have a purpose. Make each breath worth it.
“We each have a purpose, so make each breath worth it.” I mean these words to be true more than perhaps anything I have ever written. Call it cliche, arrogant, or whatever you will, but I truly believe my purpose on this earth is to write music that helps people. I know I’m not alone in saying that music is one of the only things that has always been there for me, and ever since I drove those 8 hours north to record my first EP it has completely changed my life. I wouldn’t put myself through so much if I didn’t truly believe in this, and in music for that matter. I’ve slept in my car outside of a Mcdonald’s parking lot. I’ve boarded planes only to land in a city where I have and know nothing other than my dreams. As hard as things get, and no matter how many times I ask myself “is this all worth it?” I know that it is whenever I hear stories of how you guys relate or find faith in my music. Those moments, along with the feeling I get when I’m on stage are what I consider to be timeless. The relationships and friends I have built with anyone who is apart of this family are timeless. They are something I hope never fades away. I want this album to be a collection of memories, or rather a collection of stories we can make memories through. I feel like I have captured the past two years of my life, in these 5 songs. By documenting the hardships, the relationships, and friendships I have built through all this, I hope you guys can take something away from my words. I’m so excited to hear what you guys think of the album, and even more excited to see what you guys do with it. Therefore, I’m asking everyone reading this to please go out and pick up “Timeless” on iTunes tonight, share it with your friends, and believe in it. It would mean more to me than I will ever be able to write or tell you about in some blog or status update. I want to look back on this write up a year from now and be able to say we have created something special, something that no one can take away, and something that is timeless. Here’s to becoming all we can dream and set out to be.
Love,
Daniel
Shortly after the release of #Timeless, I will be touring & following some of the biggest tours set for this Fall. If you plan on attending any of these shows, and would like to set up a private house show, please send an email to hellohighwayparty@gmail.com. The dates and locations I will be traveling are as follows:
BOYS LIKE GIRLS/ALL AMERICAN REJECTS TOUR:
September 13 Hampton Beach, NH Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
September 15 Philadelphia, PA XFINITY Live!
September 19 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
September 21 New York, NY Best Buy Theater
September 22 Boston, MA House of Blues
September 23 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
September 25 Charlotte, NC Amo’s
September 26 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
September 27 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works
September 29 St. Louis, MO Soldier’s Memorial Park Festival (no BLG)
October 1 New Orleans, LA Mahalia Jackson Theatre
October 2 Houston, TX House of Blues
October 3 Dallas, TX House of Blues
October 5 Austin, TX Emo’s
October 25 Blackfoot, ID Club Centenario
ALL TIME LOW/THE SUMMER SET TOUR:
Fri Oct 12 Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
Sat Oct 13 Rochester, NY - Water Street Music Hall
Sun Oct 14 Cincinnati, OH - Bogart’s
Mon Oct 15 Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Tue Oct 16 Chicago, IL - House of Blues
Wed Oct 17 Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
Sun Oct 21 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
Mon Oct 22 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
Tue Oct 23 Omaha, NE - Slowdown
Wed Oct 24 Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
Fri Oct 26 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
Sat Oct 27 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
Sun Oct 28 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
Tue Oct 30 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
Wed Oct 31 West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
Thu Nov 1 San Diego, CA - House of Blues
Fri Nov 2 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
Sat Nov 3 Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
Sun Nov 4 Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
Tue Nov 6 Houston, TX - House of Blues
Wed Nov 7 Dallas, TX - House of Blues
Fri Nov 9 Jacksonville, FL - Freebird Live
Sat Nov 10 Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
Sun Nov 11 Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues
Tues Nov 13 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Wed Nov 14 Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
Thu Nov 15 Norfolk, VA - The Norva
Fri Nov 16 Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock Café
Sat Nov 17 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of the Living Arts
Sun Nov 18 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
Tues Nov 20 Hartford, CT - Webster Theater
Wed Nov 21 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
Fri Nov 23 Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
I can’t wait to meet everyone at these shows and work towards growing the #HHFamily. I’ll never stop until my music is heard. See you all this Fall!
Hope in Tomorrow is now available on iTunes! http://bit.ly/HopeinTomorrow
I’m going to bed at a loss for words really, but just know I am so thankful for every one of you who picked this up tonight. I will be calling plenty more of you in the morning, and for days to come to thank you for fueling this dream. Hope in Tomorrow is and always will be a song written about the struggles we all go through, but tonight you guys showed me how all that pain is completely worth it when chasing something you love. I love you guys very much.
-Daniel
