We talk to rising folk star Danny Addison about his powerful new single ‘Tribe’ – a desperate search for purpose in an era dominated by keyboard warriors and call-out culture.
Your new single, ‘Tribe,’ explores the search for purpose in an era dominated by keyboard warriors and call-out culture. Could you share some insight into the creative process behind it?
I was feeling very frustrated with the idea that you have to pick a side to be accepted. That not having made your mind up about a thing makes you the enemy. I feel that being on the fence about an issue, whether that’s because you don’t have enough information or you just need more time, is a valid place to be. We as people are naturally inclined to be tribal and in many ways that helps us but that can quickly evolve into something pretty ugly.
The song examines the seductive nature of righteousness and how it can evolve from a sense of moral superiority into narcissism – leading people to commit unthinkable acts. What core message are you hoping to convey?
Just that! I think anyone is capable of doing anything when pushed by their group or tribe. We have to be able to look inwards and question our own biases. Even if one hundred people in a room agree with you and one doesn’t, it doesn’t make that one person wrong.
How do you think the arrangement and intensity of the track reflect its underlying meaning?
The track starts with just a single guitar which I think mirrors the idea that dangerous ideas can start small and quickly evolve. The drums and strings in Tribe were really important to me. I wanted them to feel almost warlike, as if you were taking the fight to the door of your so-called enemies, whether rightly or wrongly, self-righteously or valiantly.
You’re set to perform at The Bedford in London, sharing the stage with Gareth Dunlop and Nathan O’Regan. Have there been any standout shows or memorable moments from your performances this year?
Performing at the Gibson Garage was actually a real treat! It felt kind of surreal knowing how many great players had come through there.
Since captivating listeners with your critically acclaimed debut ‘Pheromone’, what can audiences expect from ‘Tribe’, both musically and lyrically?
For me, Tribe is one of those songs where you can listen to it again and again and find something new every time. I wanted the narrator of the song, the character singing the lyrics if you like, to be confident that what he/she was doing was 100% right. But the listener has to be the one to decide whether they believe them or not.
If there was a “Danny Addison Tribe”, what would it be called?
Gosh, that’s a tough one! The self-deprecators? The crippling anxieties? These just sound like bad 80’s punk bands.
Your music is deeply vulnerable – an intimate reflection on love, loss, identity, and relationships in the modern world, woven through folk storytelling. How do you hope your songs will resonate with listeners?
I’m not sure I have a hope for how the songs resonate with listeners. I don’t want the music to be a kind of intellectual exercise for the listener, I’d just like people to listen and if it resonates, then it resonates! I’d be grateful for that.
Are there any fellow artists in the folk scene you’d recommend?
These are a few that I absolutely love although I’m not sure they’d all describe themselves as folk…
AK Patterson, Luke De Scisio, Eleni Drake, Amy Yon, Chloe Foy, Katherine Priddy, Beth Morgan, Joseph Weightman, Finnegan Tui.
Following the release of ‘Tribe’, can you give us a hint of what’s coming next?
There’ll probably be a couple more singles and then a debut album in summer 2025 – woo!
‘Tribe’ is out today, and can be streamed and downloaded here.
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