Interview: Daniel Markham
Discussing His New Album, 'Just Like A Dream'
Fun fact: If you start your new album with a song called “Big Star,” I’m probably going to give it a spin.
And if that track lives up to my expectations (mostly thanks to a lead guitar riff reminiscent of #1 Record songs like “In The Street”), I’ll keep listening. Which is how I plowed through Daniel Markham’s excellent new album Just Like A Dream (April 5).
“I was basically wanting to write some more power pop/classic rock type of songs with riffs. My last record was me doing heavy and dark, and I wanted to go in a different direction, but still keep the rock,” Markham told me for the interview below.
Elsewhere on Just Like A Dream, Markham taps alternative rock influences like REM and The Lemonheads (along with some nocturnal inspiration from Stone Temple Pilots).
On top of the solid songwriting and performances, the album is masterfully engineered and produced by studio ace David Barbe, a veteran of alternative rock and punk bands including Sugar, Mercyland and Buzz Hunter.
“I’ve always been a giant fan of Barbe’s studio work with Drive By Truckers and Deerhunter. I met him one night I was traveling through Athens to hang out with a friend. He invited me to check out his studio Chase Park Transduction, and we hit it off. He told me I had to come make a record with him, and I just couldn’t say no to that,” Markham said.
I caught up with Markham by email as he prepares for a Spring tour.
Congrats on the new album! I hear nods to Big Star's rootsy guitar pop throughout Just Like A Dream, mostly reminiscent of #1 Record era. Do you have a favorite Big Star record?
Daniel Markham: I think pound for pound Radio City is my favorite. My band and I did a few Big Star tribute shows, and we did a lot of songs off that record. They’re trickier to play than you would imagine, and so I think that’s the most fun one for me to put on.
Elsewhere on the album, you venture into alternative pop territory with songs like "Out For Blood." Is that a different songwriting mode for you?
Daniel Markham: I was a teenager in the ‘90s. Alternative Rock is probably my favorite genre. I feel like it’s always been in the music I make. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it!
"The Way It Goes" really brings to mind Green-era REM. Would you consider them an influence?
Daniel Markham: Absolutely! They’re one of my biggest influences. I wrote a song called “Favorite Band” that’s about REM breaking up. I actually wrote it on the day they broke up. That was a bad day for me and for everyone, I guess. I always love going to Athens and playing shows there. I have lots of friends there, and it’s just like a holy land for me.
Who are some of your other major influences?
Daniel Markham: I like a lot of metal bands. Type O Negative is one. I like how heavy they are, and I like how funny they are. I love listening to Julee Cruise a lot, too. David Lynch movies are a big influence. Neil Young, Starflyer 59, Lemonheads, ‘80s bands. So many influences.
I had a dream that I was going to make an album with Stone Temple Pilots in an RV. It felt so real to me. The next day I wrote ‘Lazy Sunday.’ I wanted to lean into my STP influence. I’ve always been into them and how they wrote songs.
"Standing In The Rain" is definitely one of my favorite tracks. It has a dreamy/bedroom pop vibe that isn't as apparent on other tracks. Did you take a different approach to writing/recording that one?
Daniel Markham: It started with me copying the rhythm from White Zombie’s “Thunder Kiss ‘65” on a bass synth. Haha. Then it turned into this sunny dream pop song about losing a friend. It was definitely a different approach, but I love how it stands out on the record and gives it a bit of range.
I love David Barbe's production and mixing. It's slick, but maintains some rock and roll rawness. Why was he the right partner for this collection?
Daniel Markham: When I started writing these songs I thought to myself that I’d like to write songs that would sound good to the Drive By Truckers crowd. Just rock songs. So yeah, David was the perfect person to make the record with.
We recorded all pretty much live to tape in a room with each other. It definitely has that raw edge. I love how it turned out.
You’re about to hit the road. How are these new tracks sounding live?
Daniel Markham: We’ve been playing 3 or 4 of the new songs for a while now, and they’re always the most fun. It’s always nice to break out new songs in the set.
If I got in the tour van with you and the band, what would I be listening to?
Daniel Markham: Anything from Sade to Moving Sidewalks. We listen to a lot of different music when we’re on the road together.
Checked out the album and liked it. Will listen again.