Interview with DANNY SOLER
Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.
Tell us a few things about DANNY SOLER (Members, Starting Year etc).
Danny Soler is my new Heavy Metal / Dungeon Synth solo project from Catalonia, Spain that I began a few days ago. The concept of this project is that absolutely everything about the project including lyrics, instruments, vocals, logos, art, mastering, mixing and promotion as well as social media management, has to be done 100% by me and only me, therefore, I'm the only member. I've done a couple of solo bands that I've finished with. I ended up the second one very recently because I was embarassed of my early releases. Oh, the early stuff was bad but after all I was a beginner on recording music. So I started this new project now that I know how to record to play music that I have a taste for. I had a black metal past that I did enjoy then, but now I'm only focused into Traditional Heavy Metal and Dungeon Synth.
You have recently released your EP ''Vampire Killer''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
Since it got released not so long ago, I've received only a few comments for the moment, although absolutely all of them were positive. The comments were both written by strangers on the internet as well as people who I personally know and family. I will probably appear in a local metal magazine who know me and they have written articles about my previous project back then.
Label or DIY and why?
Depends on the band. In my case it would be definitely DIY because that is part of the idea of doing everything by myself. To be honest I don't know much about how a label works since I use an internet promoter to deliver the music to the streaming platforms.
Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
There is one that constantly happens. I also own a YouTube channel where I do metal covers. The story is that when I'm recording the video, my mom enters the room and interrupts the video in the middle of the friggin' solo. I still live with my parents, I'm only 19 and I live in Europe, so don't expect me to own a house until I'm 50 haha!
Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
I am a practical person, so definitely Digital. Think about it. Disks can occupy a lot of space and they need a device to get reproduced. Buying physical copies of music for me is senseless unless you wanna start a collection as a hobby. However, it's totally true that digital music made musicians earn much less capital because nowadays most of the people listen to their favourite songs by free on Spotify.
Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
I have a lot. I listen primarily to NWOBHM and traditional metal. My favourite band at the moment is the one and only Saxon, which I had the luck to see them perform here in Barcelona like three months ago. Iron Maiden is also among the top. I made a little easter egg Iron Maiden reference in the song Monastery Part I. On the non metal side, my favourite artist who doesn't play metal is the "man in black" himself, Johnny Cash. He was probably the first true punk in history. Varg vikernes can be a lot of things, but his electronic songs of Burzum inspired me to write and love Dungeon Synth. I have done electronic dance music in the past so I'm used to make those kind of tracks.
Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
I guess my advice would be not to take any risks, especially in the music industry. Let me say it straight. Nowadays it's almost impossible to have music as your job, and even less if what you play is rock. I will always have music as a hobby and maybe as a second job. I have a reputation of not taking any risks in money and business. I'm Catalan, I know about being a cheap haha!
Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
Unfortunately I haven't experienced that yet and it's hard for me to do so because I'm only one guy and I would need a lot of musicians to perform. On top of that, I don't anyone to play with and I live in the middle of the forest, so it's hard to form a band in my situation. Sounds like I'm an internet edgelord now that I think of it...
What attributes do you think that a new Heavy Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
Create a new sound that has never been done before. This can be done in lots of ways. Danny Soler as a project, for example, I've combined atmospheric synths with classic metal sound. All of this put in an album with Dungeon Synth tracks. Every metal band that is famous has something unique. Iron Maiden popularised double guitar harmonies and galloping. Judas priest removed the blues influences on early metal. Motörhead were the first somewhat extreme metal band. Even Motley Crue had their unique things.
Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Heavy Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
I believe digital platforms might only support mainstream metal bands that everyone knows. Metallica for example. Other semi-popular bands might have trouble trying to have their golden era back. I'm not the one to ask how to promote stuff. I personally post my music on Discord metal servers. There are also a lot of promotion channels on YouTube who will be happy to post your music there for free.
Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Spain (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
Let's start with the most popular metal band in Spain. Mägo de Oz. I don't like that band whatsoever although I enjoy other bands of the same subgenre, folk metal. Talking about folk metal, the band Ñu is my favourite band of my country. I truly believe Ñu was the first Folk Metal band in history, period. Other known metal bands here are Obús and Barón Rojo. Metal in general isn't as popular here as it is in Scandinavia or Brazil, but I can assure you that the Iberian metalheads might be one of the most united metal communities in the world.
Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Yall be mad at me haha! I only know about Rotting Christ and I don't really like their music. Don't be mad please!
The last 4 years, worldwide in the world, we have faced many dark, strange & new situations in our everyday life (covid, lock-down etc.) Did all of this affect you positively or negatively?
I'm a very lonely guy and I'm used to spend time alone. The pandemic has affected positively more than negatively. I can never get bored at home with so many guitars to play and with so much music to write. Also I spend a lot of time playing World of Warcraft, my favourite game. About World of Warcraft, I wrote Dungeon Synth songs inspired on this game. The song of the new album "The blood bite of Lana'thel" is a good example.
What are your future plans?
Education first. I want to finish my studies and have a job that I enjoy in the chemical industry. Since my solo band is my name, I think Danny Soler is going to be the only musical project from now on. My name will always be connected to my band's name, so it's hard to get rid of it. Music will always be my hobby, so I think I will still carry on with the project until it's physically impossible for me to write more songs.
Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
It's been a pleasure. Glad to have you guys in my first interview. Peace.
By Steve the Filthy Dog.
DANNY SOLER CONTACT:
https://www.instagram.com/dannysoler_official
https://dannysoler.bandcamp.com/album/vampire-killer