Vern Daysel - RadioAirplay.com's first RELIX contest Grand Prize Winner. Vern snagged himself a track spot on RELIX magazines October/November sampler reaching a potential 300,000+ listeners. Check it out here: https://relix.com/playlistVern's winning track "Letting Go" is now also being feature on Jango.com's Falling Into Fall station here: https://www.jango.com/stations/373235643/tunein
“With more hooks than a church cloak room, the songwriting is top notch in its simplicity and Daysel’s execution, both vocally and on the six-string, is delicious and exemplary.” – Get Ready to Rock
Having just released his second album, ‘Blood of a Wolf’, the follow-up to 2016’s debut offering, ‘Shootin’ The Breeze’, Daysel has proven that his music should be mentioned alongside some of the top names in the world of Rock n Roll.
After more than decade of playing countless live shows, running bands, putting on Kiss and classic rock tribute shows to being a hired gun for chart topping artists and international stars, he kicked off his solo career in 2014 travelling all over the country with an acoustic guitar and a small PA system forging his own path. Working as a true DIY musician he has built his brand from the ground up, playing over 150 shows per year, from a small town bar in the middle of nowhere to some of the biggest biker events in Africa.
Vern`s debut album “Shootin` the Breeze” put his music on the map with being featured in Classic Rock Magazine (UK), local TV shows, music blogs, gaining radio airplay in the US, Europe and South Africa as well as signing a European distribution deal with Lions Pride Music.
Just like the first album, Daysel wrote, recorded, produced and played all the instruments (except for bass) on the new album.
With Blood of a Wolf, Daysel has delivered his best work to date, creating a ten song album without any fillers that take you on a journey to what his music is all about.
Anyone who loves the southern rocking blues of bands like Blackberry Smoke, Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR and Aerosmith, is going to want to get their hands on “Blood of a Wolf”
Can you describe your sound in one ramble-on sentence?
Bone-rattling Blues-inflected Southern Rock
What's your earliest music-related memory growing up?
From Creedence Clearwater Revival, Queen and Buddy Holly playing on the Hi-Fi in the house to my dad and my brother playing guitar there was always music around when I was growing up.
If you were to cover another band/artist's album, which would you pick and why?
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping. It`s one of my favorite albums. I love all the songs on the album and it would be really fun putting my own spin on it. And of course learning all those guitar lines would be fun.
Do you write/compose your own songs? Briefly describe your songwriting process.
I write, compose, record and play all the instruments (except for bass guitar) on my albums. I don`t have a set process that I use. Sometimes it starts with a concept that gets me excited, a cool lyric idea or just the music. I think as a songwriter it`s important to get out of your own bubble and experience different things and to not be afraid to see see things from a different perspective even if it makes you uncomfortable.
Does anything in particular inspire you to write? What get's your creative juices flowing?
Listening to good music that moves me definitely inspires me to write. But at the end of the day the best way to get the juices flowing is to just sit down and do the work.
Even if what comes out isn't that great, I`m always looking for that diamond in the rough.
What has been a highlight for you in the past year?
It was definitely a highlight for me to release my second album "Blood of a Wolf". I feel like since the first album Iv grown as a musician and a songwriter. I also worked on an Afrikaans Country project called Stoomtrein and have already released two EPs. It challenged me to write in Afrikaans which I have never done before.
What 's next? Can you give us a hint for whats to come remainder of 2018 into 2019?
For the remainder of 2018 I`ll be focusing on doing as many live shows as possible and to save up money to pay for my visa fees to immigrate to the US in 2019.
What do you like more: Performing live or recording in the studio?
I`m enjoying the studio process more and more. It`s a great place for me to let my creativity run wild. But at the end of the day nothing beats playing live and putting smiles on peoples faces. There`s nothing better when the band and the crowd is in that one moment together without any distractions.
What are some artists/bands that you're into at the moment? Or any particular song you find yourself listening to over and over?
I`m currently listening to a couple of artists and bands. I`m really enjoying the new Brothers Osborne album and the songwriting, arrangements and musicianship is top notch. Other thanks that I`m also listening to Kendell Marvel - Lowdown and Lonesome, Joe Bonamassa - Redemption and Judas Priest - Firepower, so I`m all over the place.
Any embarrassing on stage moments you'd like to share? C’mon, don’t be shy.
There`s not one particular thing that stands out. Other that tripping over cables, slipping on stage landing on my ass a couple of times. I've also learned early on that drinking too much and performing is embarrassing and stupid.
What's one thing people should know about you?
I`m not here for instant success and I believe in playing the long game and learning as much as possible on this never ending journey. I have been playing music full time for over 14 years and I`m really grateful that I get to do it.
What do you enjoy doing outside of music? Does your hobby rejuvenate your creativity?
Spending time with my wife, being out in nature either hiking or fishing and Jiu Jitsu. My mind is constantly filled with music or music related things and with Jiu Jitsu you can`t think of anything else while someone is trying to choke you out. I believe that it has helped me with all aspects of my music, from the creative side to the business side of things.
If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
Thanks for supporting me and listening to my music. Especially to the people listening to my music abroad.
Vern Daysel Links:
Website: https://www.verndaysel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verndaysel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/verndaysel