Nashville-based singer-songwriter Daniel Donato returns to Charleston this weekend to headline the Holy Smokes Lowcountry BBQ Festival at Riverfront Park in North Charleston this Saturday, November 11th (2-4 PM). Soul Shine Studios caught up with Daniel on the heels of his first all-original album release, Reflector, which makes its debut Friday, November 10th, and is available worldwide on all streaming platforms and at indie record stores near you.
SSS: Charleston is excited to have you return! What’s your connection to Charleston?
Donato: One of the first gigs I did was on the Deck at the Pour House. Charleston is one of the places where I started sewing the seeds. Something about that town is kind of cosmic to me.
SSS: Can you tell me about your musical influences and what your background?
Donato: My dad played guitar; there was always a guitar around the house. Good music was always being played in the house, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc. None of this would have happened without my father, it was his idea I go play on the street, which domino effected into me playing on stage. It’s how my whole earthly career in music started; he was there the whole time.
SSS: Tell me about the songs on the new album.
Donato: It’s about the pro-individual pursuing the dark and light in your life and finding the divinity in that. Some songs are about love and heartbreak, and they have to be about that. That’s what old-time honkey tonk country music is about, heartbreak, love, making a bad decision and learning from it. That’s what a lot of the songs on this album are about.
Make sure to check out the new album Reflector and catch Daniel Donato this Saturday, November 11th!
