dan o'shea

Born in Oxford in 1983 and brought up in York for the next twenty years. For Christmas and birthday’s I didn’t get presents, but musical instruments - that’s how it is when you come from a large Irish family. I tried the piano, the trumpet, the violin, the harp and eventually at 16 I took up the guitar – I have now been playing for eight years. I have travelled around the world playing venues in Chicago, Havana, Paris, Prague, London, and Skegness. I have entered various competitions around the country. I enjoy writing original material about lost love and life’s little quirks and mishaps as well as interpreting others’ songs in my own view. I love music and I believe it’s all about the soul and passion you put into it – that’s what makes it so real.
I’m currently living in Milton Keynes – after I finished travelling the world playing in various bars, restaurants, music venues I relocated to London, but unfortunately couldn’t live with the novelties of being barged into and the noisy silence. I still love to visit and playing gigs there is one of the most challenging places to play. I am not competitive - I do it all for fun. That way I feel it’s not a competition and I get to do whatever it is that makes me happy.
In the future I hope to earn a career from music – be it writing or performing – I can’t stay away from the limelight so I do dream that I’ll survive on performing alone. I have never tried bands – my rhythm is in my own timing and it’s drummers and base players and guitarists who don’t like playing with me. The only unique style I have is that I slow down when I want to slow down and I speed up when I feel it.
I’m currently recording an E.P called places to go which has four original songs on with a great producer from Milton Keynes.
I have played the same guitar my whole life – it’s customised to how I play and although a little pretentious I do believe because of the abuse I have subjected to my guitar it’s got my soul inside it. I believe real art comes from pain and if you read, everything will become so much easier.
kind regards,
daniel
REVIEWS
"Raw and emotional, with perhaps a nod toward Damien Rice, Dan's performances are attention grabbing and memorable". BBC YORKSHIRE
"With lyrics more angst-ridden than a teenagers diary Dan seemed to bare his soul before the crowd. This guy really is a good performer." BBC STRUNGOUT FINAL
"I like the sound of your voice." ROBIN GIBB (The Bee Gees)
"Truly a talented individual, that guy can sing". DOMINIC DIAMOND - XFM SCOTLAND DJ (the Am's front man)
"If anyone in the audience thinks that these two relaxing, beautiful performances would set the tone for the rest of the night then Dan O`Shea is about to slap them in the face. Dan's performance is electrifying, with powerful energetic vocals shifting between raw emotion and graceful high notes, its impossible to make notes on his music because you're afraid you might miss something if you so much as pick up your pen. As good as the other performers are, Dan's is the first set to really grab the audience's attention. He proves a hard act to follow." THE TALK MAGAZINE