If you’ve never heard of Dan Crossley, now is the time to change that.
The 23-year-old singer isn’t holding back any punches this year. With the release of his powerfully cathartic music video for “Mind Games,” and his latest soul-drenched single, “Heal,” Crossley is proving his talents as a singer and songwriter through relatable lyrics of love and loss, and a powerful voice to carry their weight.
There’s no better way to get a clear picture of just who the pop-R&B singer is and what he’s all about than to ask him directly. Thankfully, Dan was kind enough to answer a few questions. Allow me to introduce you to Dan Crossley:
I can’t help but notice a lot of punk rock influences in your style — did punk play a role in influencing your music as well? What bands or artists had the largest influence on you?
Growing up I loved the darker and moody bands like Evanescence and The Rasmus. Admittedly, I went through a stage of being slightly obsessed with Marilyn Manson and painted my room black. I was always the edgy kid at school, tearing up my uniform and doing things my way. I guess my style back then is how I like to look at my music now – just doing it the way I like it.
Your music tends to have big, catchy melodies that seem to drive the rest of the song forward. When you write a song, what is the process like? Does, for instance, a melody pop into your head first and then you put words to it? Or do you tend to write lyrics first and then put them to music? Maybe it’s something else entirely?
I will nearly always come up with a hook unexpectedly at ridiculous and inconvenient times so my voice notes in my iPhone are full. I guess I take it from there, adding chords and lyrics and the song can either turn into something completely different or exactly how I imagined it. Either way, it’s fun and I love that process.
Your new music video, “Mind Games” has a real Fight Club vibe to it. Can you explain the link, as you see it, between what the song is about and what is depicted in the video?
The video to “Mind Games” is an exaggeration of what I felt like emotionally going through my break up. I felt like I was fighting and losing the battle so I wanted to make the craziest video to date. It was so fun to film. And, yes, Fight Club was the inspiration!
What do you hope to accomplish with your music? What do you hope people get when they listen to you?
I hope people appreciate my honesty and authenticity. I just want to make music that people can relate to and will help them in situations that they’ve been through or are going through. It’s the best feeling knowing you’ve helped someone or made someone’s day with a song that is so close to your heart.
What can fans expect from Dan Crossley moving forward?
Fans can expect way more live shows and new music! The fourth single [
“Heal”] from my EP,
Closure, is out this Friday [April 5th]! I never stop creating, so I just want to keep being the best artist I can be and keep connecting with the people that support me.
Dan Crossley – Mind Gameswww.youtube.com
Dustin DiPaulo is a writer and musician from Rochester, New York. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Florida Atlantic University and can most likely be found at a local concert, dive bar, or comedy club (if he’s not getting lost somewhere in the woods).
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