Skilled in the use of numerous instruments, from diverse classic African and
Cuban percussion to modern ones like the electric guitar and keyboard, his
style culminates as a pioneer in electrometal. Born in 1985 and raised in
the Los Angeles area, there was no shortage of genres to sample from and
absorb. From big band jazz to the aggression of metal and industrial, and
the intensity of the club scene there is little that has escaped his notice.
His influences range all over the map as a result.Blak's music can only be described as an admixture of sounds anyone immersed
in technology would immediately recognize if they give pause: video games,
metal, anime, and techno/club scene music. The best description of this
conflagration comes from the artist himself: "The stuff you hear, but don't
pay attention to." His style blends in seamlessly into the activities that
have permeated the last ten years in film, television, and the gaming world.
Where they leave off as background noise to evoke moods, Blak brings to the
fore in a no-holds-barred and evocative package.Like many solo artists, Blak takes on several roles. His ability to play
bass and electric guitar, piano, dijembe, congas, talking drum, Del Rio mini
saxophone, drums, vocals and DJ skills create the backbone of Blak's music.
This mix has helped him mingle breakbeat/downbeat with jazz and blues in one
track only to find another track running the gamut of techno sounds from the
last twenty years. When asked why he makes music, he responds "Damn, didn't
think i needed a reason to make music..." There is no simple musical
definition for Daniel Blak other than to call him a force unto himself.
Richard T. Balsley
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