Daniel Givens Interview

Abbiamo fatto una chiacchierata con Daniel Givens, MC, Dj, produttore, poeta e fotografo che vive a New York, città in cui si respira un'aria pesantuccia in questi giorni, aria che viene insufflata in Dayclear & First Dark, primo album dopo più di cinque anni di attività. Numerosi i contributi da illustri ospiti: dalla voce di Ihu Anyanwu (G-Rizo e proprietario del magazine Repellant) a quella di Lehni Lamide (Magesticon di Asiko e Mike Ladd), dal violoncello di Semay Wu (Homelife - Ninja Tune -, The Earlies) al sassofono di Matana Roberts (Burnt Sugar, AACM, Stick & Stones) fino a Monstah Black. Daniel vanta un curriculum impreziosito da collaborazioni notevoli (Goldie, Hood, prefuse 73, Casey Rice, Josh Abrams, Nikki Mitchell, Anti-pop Consortium, Tricky, Tortoise, Dj Hell, Scanner, Mike Ladd, Liquid Liquid,...). Il suo debutto "Age" è stato designato del titolo di Disco dell'Anno nel 2000 dal magazine nostrano Blow Up. Molto presto sarà in Europa per un tour. DANIEL GIVENS "Dayclear & First Dark" (Aesthetics Records) Tracklist 01.Light Travel (fetch the future) 02.Gravity 03.Undone 04.Progression 05.Weapon 06.Twister (let it rain) 07.Invisible Ink 08.Horizon Line 09.Q & A 10.Rolling Blackout 11.Transport 12.Paint a Perfect Picture 13.Crowns and Rings 14.What's understood

Hi Daniel. How are you? I'm doing surprisedly well, despite the outcome of the current US election, and the approaching winter months, the dark days ahead. I just had a birthday, I'm 32.

So let the sun shine on your new album (very good work). Could u introduce it to our readers? My new work "Dayclear & first dark" is a personal statement about life, death, hope, faith, and love. It's my first record done completely in New York, except for Semay Wu on cello, she was visiting from Manchester. I like to think of it like if Sun Ra would of made a hip-hop record in 2004.

The title has two meanings, it deal with the time of day when the sun sets and the moon rises, and it's about the the times of day that the American slave would work, from sun up "Dayclear" to "first dark" the end of the day. It's has a lot to do with time, work, a persons journey throughout the day. It is a also the basis for a theatre piece I'm creating called the "First Dark Drama". It includes live performance, video, dancers, and record segments. I've performed excerpts, but I haven't finished it yet.

What do you mean when you say "fetch the future"? "You have to fetch the future, it's not coming towards you it's running away" comes from an African proverb dealing with a persons relationship with history and prophecy, getting older and finding your role. I use it as a hook in "light travel" because the main text is about relationships, knowing what you want, not being able to attain it, chasing after it, not letting your dream escape, you can make it happen.

In Dayclear & First Dark it seems you’re lapping a bitter soup. Is it nowadays New York? I have to admit it's been a rough four years livin in New York, the falling of the WTC happened a year after I moved from Chicago. The repercussions still resonate in the city. It's gotten a lot better, the election brought hope, the possibility for change, but now it seems a bit grime again. It's a tough town, it's taken some getting use to. I'm starting to feel that I have a place here now, just not sure, now, if I want to continue to be part of what's happening here. Starting to think about leaving the country actually.

In my personal opinion, American first enemy in this period is America itself. What do you think about it? I agree that America is it's own worst enemy. John F. Kennedy said "there's nothing to fear but fear itself". This US is very fearful at the moment. It's scared and because of the fear people are letting terrible things happen, here and abroad, in the name of America. The country is very divided right now, the election proved that, not everyone feels the same way that the government does, but the political system has been set up in a way that any real change is very hard to accomplish. On the positive side, I feel that America is finally waking up to what's been going on. More independent voices are starting to be heard. I took the opportunity as an indendent artist to voice my view and show how what's happening in America effects me.

What are the main difference between Age and Dayclear & First Dark? The main difference between the full lengths are the places they were made. "Age" was about Chicago, hanging out with Tortoise, Eternals, Pulse Programming, David boykin's Expanse, having my own group, the Age Ensemble" there was a lot more freedom with time, and it reflects the mood and vibe of the city. I had a lot more people at my disposal. It was my first record, so I had a very free instinct with it, I wanted to bring all my influences into one place, show how they relate and work together. It was about mediation and freedom, the beginning of a new era, a new "AGE". I wanted to create something organic yet also electronic. "Dayclear" is also a relfection of a place at a certain time, it's New York in the new millenium. I wanted to create a piece that was about electronics in a very ghost like human sense. The scene is different, I've become friends with people like Beans, Prefuse 73, members of Burnt Sugar and Animal Collective. During Age I was listening and experiencing jazz and improvisation, in New York became more in tuned with hip-hop and musique concrete and electronic music. The energy is also different here, it has a nervous tension both exciting and since 9-11, it's a dark city in mood and vibe. I wanted to create an album that reflected that. Also my personal relationships changed, and that had a lot to do with it. I was single during most of the process of making the new record, so it has a sense of longing, of being alone. I started to reflect inward a lot more than I had before on record. My work has always been personal and I felt like pushing that aspect forward. I also wanted to make a record that reflected the wandering spirits of New York, the artists that have lived here in the past liek James Baldwin, Basquiat, Arthur Russell, Miles Davis. I feel their energy when I look at the skyline, th e buildings, the trains, the people. I feel like I'm part of the history of this city now. Some people may not like the new record compared to the first, but I feel like it's a great leap forward in my creative process.

What’s your personal vision of progress? My personal vision of progress is change. Coming to a place where you let things come to you, effect you, then have the strength to let them go, not wanting to have possession. I feel that progress is recognizing the power of the imagination, and that whatever you dream you can fulfill. I've come to a place in my life where I recognize that I've seen some very bad things happen and am dealing with those in a positive way. Where before I wa a lot more into wishful thinking and not looking at the things that hurt you as something you can change.

Are you planning a tour? I'm planning a tour of Europe for the beginning of 2005. I like the parts of Eurpore I've seen, Demarl, Netherlands, Italy, definitely want to see more. My music has been better received so far in countries other than America. I don't mind that. Experimantation is still appreciated over there. The more I travel the more of the world I want to see.

The main stylistical bridge of your music in europe is with Soul Strata and Sofa Surfers. Do you know them? Don't know either of their music, know the names. I listen to a lot of European music like Dizzie Rascal, Jamie Lidell, Bjork, Spacek, Pramm, Broadcast, Rhythm & Sound, Jan Jenlinek. One of my favorite bands is still Massive Attack. Most of the music coming out of the US I feel is less intereting some times.

Any work in progress? I'm working on a ton of stuff. Recording some vocals for Denmark band Efterklang, as well as a video project. Recording a song for an Italian comp that pairs children with musicians. A video project with musician/drummer Guillermo E. Brown. Continuing to devleop my play "First Dark Drama" and a new sound installation/performance/cd called "grafitti orbits" and a collection of writing called "Time to break down". Shooting footage to use for the video portion of my live show. As well as thinking about the next full length, and maybe the next city.