USA: Australian singer and songwriter Daniel Merriweather to release album in the United States

Record ID: 333084

  • Title: USA: Australian singer and songwriter Daniel Merriweather to release album in the United States
  • Date: 20th February 2010
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANIEL MERRIWEATHER, SINGER, SAYING: "I try not to describe sounds. I think they are better listened to. I am just being facetious. The sound of my album is very, well, I am influenced by so many different types of music. When I sat down to write "Love & War" it was really just about writing great songs. I didn't sit down with a plan to write it a particular way. I thought if I get great musicians to come and play all these songs I have written, then it will kind of carve out its own sound. It is a live band playing on all the songs. We don't use any computers when we record the music. It is all to tape. Using these beautiful old pieces of equipment. It has a very warm sound to it."
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA6SJ8ZILK1V70WBH244MM6FE2A
  • Story Text: Australian singer and songwriter Daniel Merriweather is preparing to release his debut album, titled "Love & War", in the United States later this month (February).
    Merriweather, who was nominated for the 2010 Brit Award for 2010's Best International Breakthrough Act, is winning worldwide attention for the record, which debuted at number two on the British album chart. It's headline single "Red" has already been certified platinum.
    The 27-year-old has just finished a three date tour in Los Angeles, New York and Miami, as part of a publicity blitz to promote "Love & War".
    "I just played such an amazing fun show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles and I just had so much fun," he said.
    "I just want to keep playing, I want to get on the road, I want to tour, I want to keep being able to make music. Hopefully everyone goes out and buys my album so I can keep doing that."
    "Red" was the second most-played song in the UK and debuted in the top five on the singles chart. The song - which features guitar work from Sean Lennon and Harper Simon, son of legendary musician Paul Simon - held the number one title in Hong Kong and was top ten in Ireland and Malaysia.
    While Merriweather is perhaps best known in the United States as the soulful voice behind 'Stop Me" - a standout track from DJ Mark Ronson, the producer responsible for the recent crop of retro-soul-pop acts like Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen - he chooses not to label his genre.
    "I try not to describe sounds," joked the musician.
    "I think they are better listened to. I am just being facetious!
    "The sound of my album is very, well, I am influenced by so many different types of music. When I sat down to write "Love & War" it was really just about writing great songs. I didn't sit down with a plan to write it a particular way. I thought if I get great musicians to come and play all these songs I have written, then it will kind of carve out its own sound."
    The crooner also shunned new technology when recording the album; it was recorded to tape, to achieve "a very warm sound."
    The native from Melbourne, Australia, said he was looking forward to his music's introduction to a new audience.
    "It is the music mecca here (the United States), there's no two ways about it," Merriweather said.
    "As much fun as playing Glastonbury in England is and as much fun and amazing as touring Europe, which I have done, there is something, kind of like, you feel like you are standing on the shoulders of giants when you're playing places like the Troubadour, anywhere in America, all the great venues.
    "I grew up listening to American music, so for me, you are reminded of the gravity of how important it is over here, I don't think there is anywhere in the world that has crowds and audiences like America, so it is a lot of fun."
    Merriweather's album, released by J Records/Allido Records, hits stores on February 23, 2010.
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