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Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with unsigned UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with unsigned London singer Adam Daniels to find out more…

Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I’m Adam Daniels, born and raised in Battersea in south London. I first got into music in primary school where I was taught to play the flute and the keyboard. I then continued to learn the keyboard and play the flute throughout secondary school. Then at college I studied music technology and I learnt about music production and recording. After finishing college I started writing songs but had no one to sing them, as they felt so personal to me I thought why don’t I just sing them and I’ve been writing and singing ever since. I produce all these songs myself with the knowledge and skills I learnt at college.

Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
The Killers and their lead singer/songwriter Brandon Flowers influences my music majorly. Flowers has such a talent in writing songs that tell stories, and I’m an artist who comes to music for the lyrics. I like meaningful lyrics and songs that carry messages. The Killers are known for their huge anthems and colossal choruses. I always write my songs so the choruses have a huge impact and leave no one in any doubt that the chorus has arrived.

Another huge influence of mine is Keane, I have been listening to Keane since their debut album Hopes & Fears in 2004. I was slightly late to the party with The Killers becoming a Victim (the name for their fans) in 2008. But Keane’s Tim Rice-Oxley is another prolific songwriter who has the ability to write lyrics that seem to resonate with everyone, and at the end of the day that’s exactly what an artist wants to achieve. The best songs are the ones that all people can relate to and so I am majorly inspired by Flowers and Rice-Oxley’s writing styles.

How would you describe your sound?
Oh it’s undoubtedly electronic pop. The main instrument in my music is the synthesizer, I have a huge passion for vintage 80s synths and I have a lot of virtual emulations of these on my music production software. I have to have emulations since buying these synths now is really expensive. Nevertheless I do have a growing synth arsenal, I have some great synths including my prized possession the Nord Lead 2. I always describe my songs as having the retro feel of the 80s but with the modern songwriting style of that I have learnt from my influences.

What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
My latest track is called The One. I recently found myself surrounded by a few people who I felt had a sense of self-importance. A sort of narcissistic trait of feeling better than others. This is the main theme of The One, it’s a pop song that has a tongue-in-cheek message accompanied by sizzling synths and punchy production.

What’s your local music scene like?
Well I live in London. There are a lot of pubs and clubs doing open mic nights, live music nights etc. The opportunity is there but I’d say the live music scene is struggling. You don’t always get huge crowds and some of the venues are not often well placed to receive the most footfall. Some venues then charge door fees which can act as another barrier to getting people listening to new artists. It’s great these venues are trying but some more support would be great in my opinion.

What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
I am always working on new music, once one is released I already have a few demos in the pipeline, but nothing concrete as of yet.

Also, I recently collaborated with another singer iSAAC K! producing a track for him called Together. So that will be released sometime soon in the near future.

Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
As a singer, songwriter and producer, I always enjoy collaborating with all kinds of musicians. You always learn something new when you combine forces with others. If we’re talking established artists, I’d love to collaborate with Brandon Flowers or Keane and I also enjoy the music of Frank Ocean. His music is always so sonically beautiful and he is a truly great lyricist too. So I would jump at any opportunity to work with any of these.

Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
I don’t currently play live at the moment. But the last gig I did where I played synth for a friend who is a singer was pretty strange. The turnout was so low it essentially turned out to be one big jam where everyone was joining in with each other’s sets, providing extra percussion, vocals and brass. So no gig is a waste of time, ever, you get to meet likeminded people but most of all, engage in something that fuels the heart’s passion for music.

What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I love the storytelling resonating writing of artists such as English band Keane or the American band The Killers, so anyone who enjoys meaningful lyrics alongside retro 80s synths with big choruses will love what I have to offer and should check out my back catalogue at AdamDanielsMusic.co.uk/music.

You can find out more about Adam on his website or via Apple Music, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, Twitter or YouTube.