Words By: Brianna Vacca

Americana roots singer + songwriter Kevin Daniel unveiled an assemblage of twelve highly authentic and depth-brimmed narratives — all from the top of an Americana-rock throne. Daniel’s sophomore record Been Here Before is intrinsically filed as a twelve-step manifest of overwrought progress and emotional evolution. The collection is rippled with impassioned repercussions and devotion, exfoliating an ephemeral landscape.

“Single In The Center,” written by Kevin Daniel and produced by Sean Walsh, commences the record and hosts a bonafide din akin to Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers. A durable, pulsative bass drum cobbles up the groundwork needed to grant access for the grit-twined fretwork to glide like an open road.

The album’s second slot and first single “Don’t See The Light” opens with a higher tempo than the ladder, with a tone analogous to Hootie and The Blowfish. This composition encompasses bits of soul integrated with a conventional country-making cherried with the songwriter’s Appalachian roots. Recorded at Echo Mountain Studios and written and produced by Daniel himself, the lyricism in this piece is stapled with a lack of belonging, a disquieted precursor, and an underwhelming abundance of love to gift. He sings, “With each ring I broke, I became the joke, I see the fire, hear the devil’s choir. Got a little bit of love to give, gotta a little bit of little love to give.” 

The North Carolina native resorted back to the East Coast state to record a good portion of the record at Echo Mountain Studios — out came one of the collection’s staple gems, “One Hand On The Bible.” “One Hand On The Bible” is a particular song of the heart submerging in an alcoholic bath of despair. Honeycombed by a failed relationship, Daniel drinks himself away until his heart is soaked with booze while his other hand rests gently on the Bible. The album’s sympathetic second single, “My Oh My” was also recorded there.

While one slice of the record found its heart in Echo Mountain Studios, another portions of the twelve-step assemblage was recorded in Brooklyn, New York, with Sean Walsh from The National Reserve — an Americana group from Brooklyn. Having started this journey before the pandemic started, the heavily country twang infused “Horizons” was born there. An acapella depiction of “Lovemares” found its rise in the burrow, equipped with layered harmonies and “Lovemares II”  — the original recording split into two, this time with an instrumentation element.

Been Here Before concludes with another Echo Mountain Studios recording, “Dial Up Pain.” A song sounding like it was taken from a Chris Stapleton songbook, pain is a metaphor for a significant other. Over a blues, musical muscle doused in ebony and ivory only heard back when. When he wants to dial her up, he dials pain, singing, “So I dial up pain, when I dial up you. Lord keep me from hurting myself once again. I will cry like the rain when I dial up pain. Shit, it’s the least your cheating ass could do.” 

Been Here Before serves as a second helping of what Daniel has to offer. Things I Don’t See, the songwriter’s critically-acclaimed debut record, received high recognition from American Songwriter, Americana Highways, Americana UK, Relix Magazine, and more.

In support of the rocker’s sophomore release, the singer + songwriter will be hitting the road with stops at AmericanaFest, New Orleans, NYC, and London, in addition to an album release show on July 25th at Grey Eagle in Asheville, North Carolina, where a portion of the record was recorded. Johnny Chops of Randy Rogers Band will join as support. As an official artist for SXSW and Mountain Jam, Daniel always finds a home away from home whether it’s in North Carolina, Austin, The United Kingdom, or Costa Rica. Daniel’s journey through a twelve-step emotional saga will take the stage throughout this year, and many more to come.

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