Daniel Powter Interview
Daniel Powter Interview
From New Weekly
Brand new Canadian rocker Daniel Powter knows a thing or two about having a day from hell.Go on then – talk us through your bad day to top them all.
Two weeks before I had to go down to the States to shoot the Bad Day video, my apartment in Vancouver burned down. Somebody was welding a faucet back on a tub, or something, and ended up catching light to the walls. I lived in a really old apartment and – I can’t believe this – they used to stuff the walls with paper for insulation. You might as well just put gasoline in the walls!
Did you lose everything?
Everything. The most disturbing thing was having to go back for insurance purposes, and seeing it. All those nostalgic things – you suddenly realise they mean something to you. Photos are the worst. It’s like somebody has actually wiped out your past. It’s a weird trip.
So what did you do?
I was thinking about moving to LA anyway, because I got signed down here and I was flying back and forth all the time, so at least I didn’t have to get a truck to move all my stuff, because it was all reduced to ash! It was cleansing!
Blimey - it sounds like you’re recommending it.
No - I’m having this post-traumatic approach to it. It’s like, it doesn’t affect you for the first week. And as the months go on it has a funny way of affecting you. I’ve talked to other people it’s happened to and they’ve had the same, where it doesn’t bother you at first. But stuff is just stuff. I’m more sensitive about people, and at least no one died in that fire.
That must have put you in the mood for making the video...
Someone asked me if I was a method actor – I loved that! I needed to know what it felt like to lose everything just to do the Bad Day video! I could really feel the angst!
The song’s doing really well. That must have cheered you up.
In Europe it’s done really well . Last I heard I was number one in Germany. This is one of my first English-speaking interviews! It’s funny, the other day I was on the internet, and I found this really intense punk band from Belgium. Every other word was f**k, and they had my song on their guilty pleasures list! I loved that!
Do you have a guilty pleasure?
I love the fact that someone did it to me, but you know, I don’t like that whole thing. That’s not what music is. If I had to put something on when I knew no one was listening, it would be ‘Hungry Like the Wolf’ by Duran Duran. I still crank that up in my car, because it’s a great song.
Are you looking forward to coming over to Australia?
Are you kidding? Although, you guys are teasing me with your winter. It’s my first time and I was looking forward to hanging out at the beach, but I’m coming in August.
And what can we expect?
Well, I’m very dyslexic, so I can’t read music. It means I never know where I’m at so it’s different every single time. I know when it works though. I might end up doing a bosa nova version of Bad Day when I get to Australia!
When you first started performing, you were very nervous and sometimes turned your back to the audience. How do you feel on stage now?
It’s funny how it changes. I love it. I feel more as myself on stage. I think I used to turn my back to the audience because I didn’t think they wanted me to be there, and for the most part, they didn’t!
What’s been your most memorable performance so far?
I would say probably the Fete de la Musique in Paris, on the steps of the Palace de Versailles. There was like 100,000 people there and they sing the song with you. It’s amazing to have that feedback from people. Sitting there on the steps, having the statues of the kings and queens looking down on you – it probably doesn’t get any better than that.
What made you go into music?
I was so dyslexic as a kid, and still am, and music was such a great form of escape to me. At school I’d keep my head down and try not to get beat up, and then I’d get home and music would be like a drug to me.
Do you write your own music and lyrics now?
I write everything. I have that control issue with my music. That’s why I’m not in a band. This whole record for me was just trying to be honest. You don’t have to talk about your bitches, or the rims on your car. You can just try to relate to people. Not that I’m down on hip-hop – I love it. But I want my record to be something people can relate to. I think Bad Day is going to be the calling card for the record.
Does it take you a long time to write, as you’re dyslexic?
The funny thing is it didn’t stifle my creativity. I relied so heavily on creating instead of reading. If I could read music and was really proficient I’d have probably gone and played in some orchestra or been a teacher. But I really wanted to create. If you give me a piano, which is a very linear instrument, and you play me a song one time, I can play the song back to you because I can count the spaces between all the notes. I think dyslexia has something to do with that. I’m not saying there’s anything savant about it, but I can see it even though I can’t read it.
Did you ever consider any other career?
No I didn’t. I had a great, supportive family behind me. I played lots of music in bars with my friends when I was younger. Whatever I could do to attract girls and drink – I’d do! Music really opened that door for me!
Source: New Weekly
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