Daniel Davies (musician)

{{short description|British-American musician and composer}}

{{other people||Daniel Davies (disambiguation)}}

{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Daniel Davies

| image = Daniel davies john carpenter 10-16.jpg

| image_upright = 1.2

| alt = Daniel Davies performing live

| caption = Davies performing with John Carpenter at the Victoria Warehouse, Manchester in October 2016

| birth_place = London, England

| genre = {{flatlist|

| instrument = {{flatlist|

| occupation = {{flatlist|

  • Composer
  • musician
  • songwriter

}}

| years_active = 2003–present

| label = {{flatlist|

| past_member_of = {{flatlist|

}}

}}

Daniel Davies is a British-American composer, musician and songwriter. He is best known for his contributions to horror director John Carpenter's Lost Themes and Lost Themes II albums, and for his work with rock bands Year Long Disaster, Karma to Burn, and CKY. Davies is the son of guitarist Dave Davies of The Kinks, and the godson of John Carpenter.

Early life

Davies was born in London, England to The Kinks guitar player Dave Davies and his wife Nancy. His first nine years were in part spent on the road touring with his father. Davies moved to Los Angeles, California with his parents at the age of 11.{{cite web|title=Daniel Davies follows in dad's footsteps|url=http://archives.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/daniel-davies-follows-in-dads-footsteps/Content?oid=2148813|website=San Francisco Examiner|publisher=San Francisco Media Company LLC|access-date=4 October 2016|date=4 October 2007}}{{cite web|last1=Groubert|first1=Mark|title=LA People 2009: Working Out the Kinks – Daniel Davies|url=http://www.laweekly.com/la-life/la-people-2009-working-out-the-kinks-daniel-davies-2159362|website=LA Weekly|access-date=4 October 2016|date=22 April 2009}} His godfather, horror director John Carpenter, helped to raise Davies during a portion of his high school years.{{cite magazine|last1=Lynch|first1=Joe|title=The Kinks' Dave Davies Responds to John Carpenter's Comment About His Son|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6451078/kinks-dave-davies-john-carpenter-response|magazine=Billboard|access-date=4 October 2016|date=27 January 2015}}

Davies attended Tomales High School near Inverness, California. It was during this time that Davies began learning guitar and drums, finally settling on guitar as his main instrument. Davies later graduated from Hollywood High School in Hollywood.

Music career

=With Year Long Disaster and Karma to Burn=

Davies met Karma to Burn bass player Rich Mullins in a Hollywood grocery store in 2003. The two became friends and formed the stoner rock band Year Long Disaster with Third Eye Blind drummer Brad Hargreaves in 2004.{{cite web|title=Year Long Disaster (biography)|url=http://district6.co.uk/index.php?page=writers&id=1345|publisher=District6.co.uk|access-date=4 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019050435/http://district6.co.uk/index.php?page=writers&id=1345|archive-date=19 October 2016|url-status=dead}} Year Long Disaster were signed to Volcom Entertainment in 2007,{{cite web|last1=Appleford|first1=Steve|title=Year Long Disaster's bright future|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-mar-07-la-ca-year-long-disaster7-2010mar07-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=4 October 2016|date=7 March 2010}} and released two albums, Year long Disaster (2007) and Black Magic; All Mysteries Revealed (2010). The band toured with Motörhead, The Cult, Velvet Revolver, and Foo Fighters amongst others.{{cite web|last1=Stander|first1=Tazz|title=Daniel Davies – Year Long Disaster – Interview Exclusive|url=http://www.uberrock.co.uk/interviews/56-may-interviews/871-daniel-davies-year-long-disaster-interview-exclusive.html|website=Über Röck|access-date=4 October 2016|date=20 May 2010}}

In 2009, stoner rock band Karma To Burn reunited, and in 2010 announced an American tour with Year Long Disaster.{{cite web|last1=Wiederhorn|first1=Jon|title=Karma to Burn Tour Dates With Year Long Disaster|url=http://noisecreep.com/karma-to-burn-tour-dates-with-year-long-disaster/|website=Noisecreep|access-date=4 October 2016|date=23 March 2010}} Over the course of the year, both Davies and Mullins confirmed that the two bands were merging.{{cite web|last1=Koczan|first1=JJ|date=13 May 2010|title=Karma to Burn Interview: Rich Mullins Reveals Tours with The Sword and Monster Magnet, Merger with Year Long Disaster, Future Recording with John Garcia and More|url=http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2010/05/13/karmatoburninterview/|access-date=4 October 2016|website=The Obelisk|publisher=JJ Koczan}} Davies went on to sing vocals on Karma to Burn's next albums, Appalachian Incantation (2010) and V (2011).{{cite web|last1=Koczan|first1=JJ|date=25 May 2011|title=Karma to Burn, V: Never Say Five|url=http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2011/05/25/karmatoburnreview-2/|access-date=4 October 2016|website=The Obelisk|publisher=JJ Koczan}}

=With CKY=

In 2012, rock band CKY announced that they were hiring Davies to replace founding vocalist Deron Miller after disagreements with Miller had put the future of the band in uncertainty. Davies fronted the group as a touring member in 2012,{{cite web|last1=Shaw|first1=Zach|title=CKY Replaces Deron Miller With Year Long Disaster's Daniel Davies|url=http://www.metalinsider.net/metal-musical-chairs/cky-replaces-deron-miller-with-year-long-disasters-daniel-davies|website=Metal Insider|access-date=4 October 2016|date=19 March 2012}} and fronted the group again in 2015 for a performance at Amnesia Rockfest in Montebello, Quebec.{{cite web|title=CKY Confirm The Return of Daniel Davies For 'Amnesia Rockfest'|url=http://www.theprp.com/2015/04/17/news/cky-confirm-the-return-of-daniel-davies-for-amnesia-rockfest/|publisher=Theprp.com|access-date=4 October 2016|date=17 April 2015}} The band initially stated their intentions to record with Davies as vocalist, however announced in 2016 that they would be recording a new album as a trio, presumably without Davies.{{cite web|last1=Kennelty|first1=Greg|title=CKY Is Recording Its First New Record in Six Years|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/cky-to-record-its-first-new-record-in-six-years|website=Metal Injection|access-date=4 October 2016|date=25 July 2016}}

On November 26, 2021, a song was released with Davies on vocals entitled “Lost in Departures”.{{cite web|title=CKY - Lost in Departures|url= https://youtube.com/Ozx58Qkcu9c |via=YouTube}}

=With John Carpenter=

In 2014, Davies' godfather, director John Carpenter, began work on an album of instrumental music entitled Lost Themes. The initial work was a collaboration between Carpenter and his son Cody, but after the younger Carpenter went to Japan to teach, Carpenter brought in Davies to continue collaboration on the album, with Davies playing guitar and contributing as a songwriter and co-producer to the project. The album was released by Sacred Bones Records in 2015.{{cite web|last1=Stannard|first1=Joseph|title=John Carpenter: A brand new world|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/2392|website=Resident Advisor|publisher=Resident Advisor Ltd.|access-date=4 October 2016|date=29 January 2015}}{{cite magazine|last1=Lynch|first1=Joe|title=John Carpenter Talks Debut Album 'Lost Themes' & Why Music Is Easier Than Directing|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6450980/john-carpenter-lost-themes-debut-album-interview|magazine=Billboard|access-date=4 October 2016|date=26 January 2015}}

In 2016, Carpenter followed up Lost Themes with the album Lost Themes II. The album again featured Davies' contributions, as well as Cody Carpenter's.{{cite magazine|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|title='Halloween' Filmmaker John Carpenter Announces Album Sequel|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/halloween-filmmaker-john-carpenter-announces-album-sequel-20160201|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|access-date=4 October 2016|date=1 February 2016}} While recording the album, the trio also scored the main titles for the CBS television series Zoo.{{cite web|title=Lost Themes II (Album Notes)|url=http://www.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/lost-themes-2/|website=The Official John Carpenter Website|access-date=18 October 2016}} Carpenter toured to support Lost Themes II throughout 2016, with Davies as a member of his touring band.{{cite web|last1=Ohanesian|first1=Liz|title=Horror Filmmaker John Carpenter Is Loving His Second Career as a Musician|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/horror-filmmaker-john-carpenter-is-loving-his-second-career-as-a-musician-6807287|website=LA Weekly|access-date=4 October 2016|date=11 April 2016}}

He composed the music for the 2018 film Halloween, Halloween Kills, and the 2022 remake Firestarter, with Carpenter and his son Cody.{{cite web|url=https://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/products/sbr213-john-carpenter-halloween|title=Halloween: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|website=Sacred Bones Records}}

=Soundtrack work=

Davies contributed guitar work to the soundtrack of Vampires. In 2013, Davies composed the soundtrack to the Australian horror film I, Frankenstein (2014) in collaboration with ex-Filter guitarist Geno Lenardo under the name "By Maker".{{cite web|title=BY MAKER Featuring Ex-FILTER, YEAR LONG DISASTER Members To Appear On 'I, Frankenstein' Soundtrack|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/by-maker-featuring-ex-filter-year-long-disaster-members-to-appear-on-i-frankenstein-soundtrack/|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=5 October 2016|date=19 December 2013}}

Davies has contributed to several film soundtracks in collaboration with composer and author Sebastian Robertson.{{cite web|last1=Minow|first1=Nell|title=Sebastian Robertson Talks About Composing for the New Horror Film "Condemned"|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nell-minow/sebastian-robertson-talks_b_8512680.html|website=HuffPost|access-date=4 October 2016|date=10 November 2015}} Davies and Robertson contributed the original track "Rebel Shake" to the film The Vatican Tapes (2015),{{cite web|title=The Vatican Tapes Production Notes|url=http://www.lionsgatepublicity.com/uploads/assets/THE%20VATICAN%20TAPES%20Production%20Notes%20Final.pdf|website=Lionsgate Publicity|publisher=Lionsgate Entertainment|access-date=4 October 2016|pages=42–43|year=2014}} and provided a new wave style cover of Pixies' "Wave of Mutilation" for the SyFy television film Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015).{{cite web|last1=Kaye|first1=Ben|title=Daniel Davies and Sebastian Robertson cover the Pixies' "Wave of Mutilation" for Sharknado 3 – listen|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/06/daniel-davies-covers-pixies-wave-of-mutilation-for-sharknado-3-listen/|website=Consequence of Sound|publisher=Alex Young|access-date=4 October 2016|date=4 June 2015}} The duo also scored the Eli Morgan Gesner-directed horror film Condemned (2015).{{cite web|last1=Gerstenzang|first1=Peter|title=Sebastian Robertson Scores Condemned Movie|url=http://americansongwriter.com/2015/11/sebastian-robertson-scores-condemned-movie/|website=American Songwriter|publisher=ForASong Media, LLC|access-date=4 October 2016|date=13 November 2015}}

Discography

=Year Long Disaster=

=Karma to Burn=

=CKY=

=Solo albums=

  • Hidden Faces EP (self-released, 2011)
  • Events Score (Lakeshore Records, 2018)
  • Signals (Sacred Bones Records, 2020)

=John Carpenter=

=Soundtrack albums=

References

{{Reflist}}