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SLARGAN MAGAZINE  Daniel announces he and The Rockers are cooking up a song for his second studio album "Rio Piedras". [center] When we complemented Daniel on his fashion/wardrobe, he was pleasantly surprised. We told him that we love how he rocks a winter beanie hat in the summer.
"I call it the condom hat. From now on you shall too". he laughed after he responded.
Daniel successfully emerged to the scene with his experimental spin on pop-rock music. Experimental music was definitely not on the rise but with the help of Green Leaf, Stephanie Fierce and Daniel other artists and bands such as newcomers Mind and Infinite have recently picked up on the genre.
“Most definitely credit Green Leaf’s [“Spectrum Overflow”] as one of the best experimental albums in a really long time. Stephanie Fierce also shocked the scene musically. As a pop artist, she brought something fresh to the table. She was rapping and singing Opera on [“Massacre in the Industry“] earlier this year. No one was doing that and people looked at her all crazy at first. She was so ahead of her time. She definitely gave me that push to do my own thing as well. Now I see bands such as Mind and Infinite pick on it, it’s pretty amazing the impact we’ve made.”
The experimental phase has definitely added a fierce touch to the music scene and more artists are branching out with the genre. Now Daniel wants to do something a bit different and mix in some rap for his next album:
“My next album is a bit "classic rock" influenced, latin rock and I will be rapping as well. It came naturally to me. I didn’t orchestrated this, I started rapping out of nowhere and I felt like it was true with the music. It was a special moment in the studio. Why not keep it, you know! It’s not a rap album though. But, bringing in rap is not only a challenge, but I'm also opening myself to whole new audience of listeners. I respect other genres so I'm working hard to not disappointed the rap scene. People have this misconception that Rap music is all about violence, rape in prison and killing chicos, fucking bitches ect. As if that wasn’t important to talk about. Yet those same people judging, want our illegal immigrants shot and killed. I’m speaking on behalf many rap artists out. It’s double standard and I’m sick of it. The new album will contain complete Spanish written material as well, which is a first for my listeners.”
Have people told you that you dress like a rapper?
"I have been getting that lately. I don’t have a stylist or anything like that. I dress myself and I dress what I like and this is it. (laughs)."
Now we got to address that fact that You have had a successful year so far, and we must comment on the fact you’re album is pretty stellar for a debut effort. Are you shocked by all the success?
"Thank you and most definitely am. I love my album, I love the finished product and the next step was for people to listen to it. It’s happened and the reaction is amazing and I’m very satisfied. I am definitely shocked by the success. I will continue to say that I definitely showcased myself more as an artist rather than a musician. Which Is the only thing I criticize myself for. But with my next album, I’ll definitely showcase my musicianship a little more. I had songs like “Anti-social”, and “Aliens” where I did my amazing keyboard magic. You’ll see more of that."
Right, you play the keyboard and the bass guitar. Is there any other instruments you can play?
Oh yes! I can play the bongos, the congas, the guiro, the maracas, and the cuatro. Spanish instruments.
We were kind of lost there (laughs)? I’m shocked that you didn’t mention the Tuba though.
You know it’s funny because a lot of kids in Puerto Rico learn to play these instruments and the only instrument we all hate to learn is the Tuba.
People say that fame and the self fixed music scene doesn’t seem to have much of an effect on you. Do you believe that?
"I guess. I really hate speaking on this because people get the wrong idea. I’m not trying to be this boring character. I don’t want people to have this misconception of me that I’m this lonely creature who sits in a corner whining about my life all day. I have certain interests and fantasies that I have yet shown to the world. I honestly don’t know why I approach fame this way. I’m just being me, I guess. That’s the whole point and the whole message I’m trying to put out. People are so quick judge me and base things just by the way I look. People deal with fame, fame just doesn’t just exist in the music industry. I hate it when artists make it seem that way. I just want people to love themselves and have that time, where they can listen to my music and feel wanted and understood. That’s the whole goal. When I was younger, I always wished that I had someone that could just understand me as a person."
That’s actually the main reason why we love Anti-social so much. It’s doesn't only have an experimental sound, it also has a powerful message. Which wee think is the reason it managed to win “Breakout Album” at the Music Hall of Fame. How do you feel about winning that honor?
"You know I feel like other people deserve the award just as much as I did. So I feel lucky to have won that. It’s an award show. I have mixed reception of what award shows stand for. So I try not to make it a big deal. To see how that message and the experimental genre is spreading with other bands and artists its absolutely amazing."
Your recent video “Aliens” features bright, colored imagery. The video was definitely very unexpected. Can you tell us more about the concept and idea of the video?
"I have absolutely no idea what the video is about. All I know is that me and my two friends wanted the whole neighborhood to have sweet refreshments."
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with that you haven’t collaborated?
"I just recently did something with The Rockers. Pretty legendary band. I'll talk more on the collaboration in a few weeks. Other than those guys, I haven't collaborated with anyone yet.....I’m going to shamelessly plug this in and look like an obsessed freak but I would love to work with Ryan Ross Hernandez. I met with him in New York this October but I didn’t get the guts to ask him. Simply because I respect him as a musician. You know. I wouldn’t want it to be like a gimmick collaboration. If he were interested I would really want to push the envelope musically. Do it just for the music not for the public interest. I think I have what it takes, most definitely. All I’m going to say is that his new album is freaking amazing. I can relate to it a lot. I think he’s the most honest artists around right now, and he doesn’t try too hard. Which is what grabs my attention."
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