“One of the foremost outsider artists in modern folk.”
The first time I ever heard the music of Dan Reeder was when someone sent me a link to the video of ‘The Work Song’ (NSFW). Once I heard it, I had to find out who this guy was. I found out that his story is even more interesting than that song. I’ve been trying to set up this conversation with Dan for years, it took the kindness of his record label Oh Boy Records to put us in touch. Dan Reeder has a mind I enjoy being in conversation with, he looks at the world in unique angles (though he would never say that about himself).
Dan Reeder is an American musician and artist working and living in Germany. He has 3 albums and most recently an EP, Nobody Wants to Be You. You can find a book of his artwork entitled, Art Pussies Fear This Book. In our conversation we talk about his life as an artist, how he got connected with John Prine, how his perspective as an artist has shifted over the years and much more.
You can learn more about Dan Reeder’s work at danreeder.com
You can follow Dan on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Spotify.
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EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Resources by Dan Reeder
Resources Mentioned
- ‘Purple Rain’ by Prince
- ‘The Work Song’ by Dan Reeder (NSFW)
- ‘Pond in the Park’ by Dan Reeder
People
- John Prine
- David Shrigley
- Richard Rohr
Drink Pairing
- Coffee, Beer
Highlights
- Where do I find you today?
- What does a day in the life of Dan Reeder look like?
- This podcast focuses on the contemplative posture by kindling the examined life. What brings you into a reflective or contemplative state of mind?
- If someone were going to teach a class on the formation of Dan Reeder what 3 works that formed you would definitely be on that syllabus?
- What was the last piece of art, painting or music, that really light you up and why?
- I read that your Father is a preacher in the south, how did life in the church form you for better or worse?
- Was it in church that first got started in music?
- What prompted you to send John Prine your music?
- What was your response when you got a response from John Prine?
- I imagine there was a time or two when you and John Prine had a drink together, what would you talk about?
- Who is the first person you play a completed song for?
- When someone asks you what kind of music you play, what do you say?
- Whenever anyone mentions you, they mention that you make all of your own instruments…what drives you to craft your own instead of purchasing one?
- Starting with this theme, I’ve was taken by your song like ‘Pond in the Park’, which relaying that you are thinking about a homeless man bathing in a pond, you never share your thoughts on the matter, just that you’ve been thinking about him. It’s one of the most satisfying songs on your EP, but it leaves the question if what you were pondering to the listener. It seems to me, you get a kick out of the leaving the listener hanging or with a thought almost complete… Can you tell me creating art that leaves the tension in the air?
- Why are you only creating one more album?
- What perspective to off younger folks as they dream of becoming a working artist?
- How has your perspective as an artist changed over the years?
- We always pair an episode with a drink, what drink of choice goes best with this conversation?
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