Danny Sandock might have celebrated the release of his new CD “Breaking New Ground” in May but he has been creating music since he was a teenager in his native South Bend, Indiana.
Drawing inspiration from all and any aspects of life, Sandock is not timid about incorporating his personal experiences in his music. The first track ‘Breaking New Ground’ from his new album was based on his stepmother.
“It was a tribute to her since she lived by the Natches Trace Parkway and she raised me,” Sandock said. “I have always loved Elvis and I used to travel all of the time so I got on the Natches Trace Parkway and headed 75 miles southwest toTupelo, MS., the birthplace of Elvis.”
For the free-spirited Sagittarius, experience and music go hand-in-hand which allows him to create the music that will connect with people.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me when someone who is going through problems tells me that my music has helped them get through,” Sandock said. “It hasn’t happened enough but it has happened several times but the sincerity of someone telling me that is like selling ten CDs for me. You just can’t put a number on it.”
While “Breaking New Ground” was a chance for Sandock to express his desire to break new grounds by traveling to old places that he’s visited and new places, the musician does appreciate the life experience that playing in approximately 30 states has provided.
“It is a good thing and a bad thing (to travel),” Sandock said. “For the guys that stick around it is good because they do well due to the longevity. I being a Sagittarius and the fact that I hitchhiked about 20,000 miles before I was 18, I just like getting around. In a way I think it has worked against me a little bit.”
Due to the traveling he has been able to perform with people like long-time Johnny Cash keyboard/vocalist Earl Pooleball, and others like Ruthie Foster and Gary Primich during Sandock’s four-year stay in Austin, TX.
“I never planned to stay there but I was having some good gigs getting booked up and I got really lucky that a guy who I am friends with who was booking Central Market (in Austin),” Sandock said. “I got into rotation with really good people. It got me a bunch other gigs. I loved playing Austin but I found out that Texas is for Texans.”
The death of his second wife took Sandock out of performing for about three months and even stalled the completion of his album. While the business aspect is not something that he particularly enjoys, Sandock has overcome his share his setbacks in order to do what he loves most.
“It is enough just to go out and give a great live performance, be passionate about what you love and give it your all,” Sandock said. “I have had as many as three or four people book me around the same time and it’s great. It is frustrating when half the people won’t listen to your stuff even when they say they will. Yet, I appreciate my record label, Aardvark Records in Austin, Texas for believing in me.”
Competing in the Los Angeles market presents several challenges but for this artist, said challenges are also good opportunities to thrive.
“I am an amalgam of folk rock, blues, or bluesy-folk: I play the harp and guitar at the same time; I am country and Americana; I am kind of like the new country,” Sandock said. “I don’t want to be pigeon holed. I have had many friends tell me to learn about 50 blues songs so I can be a working blues act. I like blues, I always have and I have seen some pretty great blues players and I will always be in love with it but I like Steve Miller and Mellencamp; I am across the board and I love the song writing process.”
For Sandock, his music will always be about the art and the process to get there.
“My problem has been that some of the dream cities, N.Y., L.A., Nashville, are tougher because you have people who are great and unknown and never get known,” Sandock said. “Yet, they are all willing to work for nothing. I honestly will play for a good cause at the drop of a feather. A good benefit or good cause, I would rather do any day rather than play for a bar just to ask people to spend their money.”
All four of Sandock’s CDs are in download form from amazon/ cdbaby.com and I-tunes.