Dan Davidson is a new arrival to Canada’s country music landscape, but it hasn’t taken him long to make an impression.
After spending more than a decade with Edmonton rock group Tupelo Honey, Davidson stepped away following the group’s 2014 record to pursue a solo career in a country vein.
That career adjustment paid off, as Davidson’s second single, Found, picked up Single, Song and Video of the Year honours at the 2016 Alberta Country Music Awards, and Davidson went home with a Rising Star Award. A debut EP, Songs for Georgia, followed in 2017.
He said he’s been well-received by his new country music cohorts and hasn’t received any pushback because “I’m not changing what I do as a human.”
“I’m still kind of the same guy. I’m not chasing anything with country, I’m just kind of doing what I think sounds cool in country. Being from Alberta, it’s tough to shake a lot of that style of music that’s just kinda out here all the time,” he said.
“I think with Tupelo Honey and the rock world, it was something we were always trying to sort of press down a little bit, but now it’s kind of just letting it go and it’s coming out the way it’s coming out and I’m just so happy that people are relating to it.
Davidson currently touring Canada with country singer Brett Kissel. Davidson will be the opening act when the two singers come to the Port Theatre on Monday, March 19. Davidson said he couldn’t wait to tour with Kissel for the first time.
“He always has me up to sing a few songs with him and he’s just one of the best we’ve got here in Canada. He’s Juno-winning, multi-gold-selling, very respected artists and it’s a blast,” he said.
“His whole camp is awesome. Some of his guys play on my recordings, his sound man used to be my sound man and it’s just like a big family.”
During the tour Davidson put out a new single, Let’s Go There, and said he’ll be playing shows in France in the summer. Davidson said it was a surprise finding success so soon after going solo, noting that “It’s so hard to know what to expect in this industry.”
“I just wanted to so something that felt right creatively and give it some time to see what resonates with people out there. I just wanted to work hard and have some success and build something over five years, but I had no idea the pace was going to be this quick…” he said.
“Honestly, I got a little scared when Found started doing so well because I had to figure out how to catch up to it. I had to be ready to be at that level sooner than I had anticipated, so it’s one of those great problems to have.”
WHAT’S ON … Dan Davidson opens for Brett Kissel at the Port Theatre on Monday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. All seats $45, available at the box office.
