Another of our occasional “bands” featuring just one member! Raise a glass for Dan Kincaid who took our “band” questions with tongue in cheek where appropriate…
Simple things first – where are you from?
I’m originally from Foxboro MA but moved to Los Angeles to pursue my music career.
How did you meet?
I’m a solo artist so I’m the only one I can introduce you to at the moment. Hi, my name is Dan Kincaid and I’m an alc… a singer!
How long have you been playing music?
I’ve been playing music since I was a teenager. First as a guitar player, now as a singer.
When I moved to Los Angeles, I couldn’t find a singer, so I stepped up to the role. I’m a solo artist at the moment, but as far as those involved in the creation of this album, I’ve been friends with Christian Eigner of Depeche Mode and Niko Stoessl for about 4 years or more. We started working on the album before Christian went on the Global Spirit Tour and finished it up when he got back.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
Since this is my first solo album, I didn’t have to put much thought into it this time. I could just use my name! I really didn’t miss the painstaking process of trying to come up with the perfect band name.
What are your influences?
There’s really no single artist that I could pick out and say, “This person is responsible for my sound”. Over the years, I’ve been influenced by so many artists in so many different genres. I love Sinatra, Bowie, Prince, Motley Crue, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, etc. With Persona Non Grata, I sat down with my thoughts and just let the music flow. I let the music be what it wanted to be and then my producers, Christian and Niko put the finishing touches on it.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
I would call it modern glam rock. It’s flamboyant and dramatic at times, but it’s real. I poured my heart out on this one. Every one of these songs is a representation of what goes on in my head every day. I really had no agenda when I sat down to write this album. I just hit record and what came out, came out. It’s life on a platter. We all have our lows and highs. We’re all striving to overcome something. We’re all trying to be something more. It’s human nature. Persona Non Grata is an honest representation of my life. I think the greatest thing about these songs is that they’re not complete until you add your own story to them.
What makes my music unique are my personal experiences and perspective. I’ve experienced some things you never want to experience, and I’ve come through that stronger on the other side because of it.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Persona Non Grata is my soul in album form. It’s a chronicle of my personal battle to overcome all that I feel is holding me back. Sometimes the biggest obstacle in my way is myself. I’ve been through some traumatic events that I still work every day to overcome. I hope others out there who are feeling the same types of emotions and dealing with the same types of issues that I deal with on a daily basis can take solace in the fact that they’re not alone in their struggles.
Persona Non Grata is about life, love, loss, and rebirth. It’s about facing your demons and finding the strength to overcome them.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
I’ve played over 100 shows easily. If you come to see me live, you can expect some major production value. I believe that if someone is going to spend their hard-earned money to come out and see me it’s my duty to give them their money’s worth.
Not only will the band throw down like a mutha’ fucker but it will be presented with an immersive multimedia experience designed to portray the music as it should be portrayed. Don’t get me wrong, the performance of the band itself will be amazing. I just believe in doing more and making it a truly memorable experience.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
One of the craziest things that’s happened to me at a show is when I split my pants in the middle of a performance. It’s not really comfortable to wear anything under some of the stage clothes I wear, so Dan Junior decided he was going to front the show for the rest of the night.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Right now, I’m playing B.C. Rich guitars through a 1972 Marshall MKII head, an Ibanez Tube Screamer and Marshall JCM 900 cabs. As far as mics go, all the vocals on Persona Non Grata were recorded through a Shure SM7B. Live, I prefer a Shure Beta 58.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
I’m plugging the new album, Persona Non Grata. I truly believe that this is my greatest musical work and I’ll be doing all I can do to get out to the world. On that note, thank you so much for having me and giving me a platform to talk about it! I truly appreciate it!
What are your plans for 2020?
I’ll be releasing more videos this year. I’ll also be searching for TV/film/video game placements. I truly believe that a lot of these songs belong on soundtracks! I’ll also be doing some showcases in the Los Angeles area and if the right tour opportunity comes along, I would love to bring this music to the world!
