We recently connected with Danny Knapp and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Danny, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I had great role models all around me while growing up. My parents both lead by example, and we actually discussed this topic quite often. They helped me to understand that only through my own efforts would I ever make strides towards my goals and dreams. They also demonstrated that if you love what you do, the obstacles and tedious parts don’t feel nearly as insurmountable. I also had some great teachers in school and a few mentors early on in my career that showed me the value of putting in the effort and extra hours when it mattered.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a musician and singer. My primary instrument is bass guitar, but I have also been playing ukulele professionally for many years. I play in several original music projects as well as being a musician/singer-for-hire.
One of my favorite things about being a musician-for-hire is that I get to work in a variety of different genres of music, and I frequently get the challenge to learn a lot of new material quickly. It also offers me the chance to explore a lot of different, interesting places, as I am often gigging at venues in regions I haven’t had the chance to visit before, whether here in SoCal or other parts of the world.
I’m very excited about some upcoming releases with my original emo/hardrock band We’re No Gentlemen. Our existing streaming catalog has been doing very well, and we’re currently in the process of recording some new songs, as well as some really cool acoustic versions of a few of our existing songs.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
First and foremost, it’s important to be adaptive. Very seldom do things go perfectly according to plan, so it’s essential to be able to adjust to changing conditions and stay focused when things go sideways. As a performer, it’s especially important to maintain a ‘poker face’ and not let on that something went wrong in order to avoid distracting the audience and keep the show going.
In-tow with being flexible, I think it’s important to be prepared. Do your homework for every event so that you can be on time and have contingency/back-up plans for various ‘what if’ scenarios.
Lastly, I feel it’s vital to be humble and gracious. My job would be impossible without the input and contributions of countless others. I am privileged to get to work with so many wonderful and talented people, and I appreciate their wisdom, time and expertise.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always open to collaborating with other musicians, songwriters, and producers, whether it be for live shows, music videos, in the recording studio, or just working on new compositions for the sheer joy of creativity. I can always be contacted through my website, email, Instagram, or my Facebook page.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://melonheadmusic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_melonhead
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/officialdannyknapp
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melonheadmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/melonhead_music
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Melonhead
Image Credits
Various images by Christopher Liao, Red Hare Images, Lillie Knapp, and Dani Photography
