Where are you from?
I grew up in Tulsa, OK
What is your earliest memory of music?
I am the youngest of 6 kids. My Mom raised us while my Dad was at work. This meant a lot of time with Mom in her car listening to her music. Her music was soft 70’s pop. There are some songs from that style that are powerfully nostalgic to me.
When did you start being an artist?
Well, before I really went after music, I thought I wanted to be a writer. That started when I was young. I read all the time, and occasionally I’d write stories. I never liked the things I wrote, and I didn’t like writing them, but I really wanted to create.
When I started writing songs I liked it immediately.
How would you describe your style?
My music is a country, jazz rock and roll.
Are there any particular themes or messages that you often explore in your music?
The foundation of my music is how grateful I am to be one of the luckiest people I’ve ever known. I have a wonderful family, great friends, my health, I get to make music and I have experienced that redemption is real.
I don’t really write songs with messages intended to tell other people how to be. The messages are generally reminders for me that I am surrounded by beauty, but it can be taken away if I don’t nurture and honor it.
What is the meaning behind your stage name?
It’s just my name.
What is the story behind your most famous song?
Maeve is my song that has gotten the most attention. Awhile ago, my family went through a tragedy. When I sat down to write this song in the middle of devastation and loss, I thought, “I want to add something hopeful to what I am experiencing. I want to have an active role in shaping where this experience goes, and what its memory feels like.”
What is the hardest thing about being an artist?
Sometimes the internal critic gets a little too much room, and I think, “Should I keep doing this?” And then, I snap out of it and think, “Just acknowledge the jerk in the room without engaging, and then get back to doing your thing.”
What’s the best thing about being an artist?
Having a complete stranger compliment me on a song I wrote. Someone took the time to clap, talk to me or give me a tip. Any of those makes a big impact every time.
What are your goals for your music career?
I’m gonna keep going, making sincere and consistent effort and see what happens next. It’s been a great time so far, so I might as well keep going.
What do you like to do in your free time (outside of music)?
My Dad was an avid gardener, so I have become one too. I exercise a lot, and I still enjoy books immensely. Reading is still great, but nowadays, I often listen to them while driving.
Do you get involved with charities or causes that are important to you?
Yes, I do. I do a lot of work for an organization called Hope For Haitians. They build sustainable, safe, resident owned and managed Villages in Haiti. Currently, there are 18 Villages with over 5,000 residents living lives of independence and dignity.
https://hopeforhaitians.org/
What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?
I don’t know how to read music. And I lived in Denver for 12 years and never skied. I had several knee injuries when I was young and thought time in the mountains for me should be entirely social. And it was!
What does a typical day look like for you?
Everyday starts with coffee and exercise. I gotta sweat, it’s critical. I take my daughter to school, and then I go to my job. Every night, if I’m not hanging out with my family, I’m checking my plants or playing guitar.
Do you have any upcoming projects we can be excited about?
Yes! I’ve started work on a new record, and I am really happy with the songs that will be on it.
What are some of the standout tracks on your latest project?
The songs for this record that get the best response are There Ya Go, Night To Day and Ya Might Like It.
What are your favorite topics to write about?
My family, the silent battles we are all fighting and redemption.
How do you deal with creative block or artist block?
Sometimes I won’t do anything musical for a few days or longer. I won’t even listen to music. In the car a book, or silence.
When I get back to my guitar, everything falls into place.
What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
My Dad was a doctor, I heard him say, “Never practice medicine alone….or, anything else.”
Having different perspectives you can trust is priceless.
What was the best show or tour you have ever been on?
The past few years, I have put together a regional tour from where I am outside Chicago to Tulsa and back. It takes me through The Ozarks. That whole region of the US is incredibly nostalgic for me. I love it.
What’s been your favorite moment of your career so far? Where can people find your music online?
In 2023, my record Travelin’ Light won Critics Choice Album of the Year in The Rockford Area Music Industry Awards. That meant the world to me!
Site and socials:
My site is: https://www.danmaguiremusic.com/
For socials:
https://www.instagram.com/danmaguiremusic01/
https://www.facebook.com/maguiremusic01/
Tik Tok: @danmaguiremusic
