Formula Indie Sessions – Interview with The Daytime Rivalry
The Daytime Rivalry (TDR) spent his adolescence in the Wind and Flat Lands of West Texas, obsessed with the liner notes of Tooth & Nail CDs and the raw energy of early 2000s alternative.
TDR’s music blends the heart of a worship leader with the grit of nostalgic emo. The music is a bridge between the spiritual and the cinematic. It’s a sound built on trading Johnnie Walker for an Epiphone Les Paul and finding the divine in the distortion.
To date, he’s released 3 songs. 2 of which feature artists such as KJ-52 and Jason Dunn of Hawk Nelson. With a full 6 song EP expected to drop this fall.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Growing up in the early 90’s/00’s CD era, I remember my dad keeping a CD collection that he would play on occasion and I would get in trouble for touching it. Some of my childhood artists I listened to are in the vein of Audio Adrenaline, Early Newsboys, and Geoff Moore And The Distance.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Around the age of 10 or 11, I began falling in love with Hip Hop and different artists which led me to begin writing poems and turning those into raps at around 14-15 which then led to full out song writing which was the reason I began to learn to play guitar.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I had always dreamed of doing music “for real”. However, due to funding, getting married, supporting a family… I basically spent a decade performing in the background and writing hundreds of songs in the margins of a corporate career.
Eventually, I was challenged by a counselor to just do it and my wife was supportive, because I’m either doing it now or when I’m 60. So I ventured to release my first song and put my full ability behind it to get it started.
That single was somewhat successful and now I’m just knocking on every door and just walking through the ones that open.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
TDR’s music blends the heart of a worship leader with the grit of nostalgic emo. The music is a bridge between the spiritual and the cinematic. It’s a sound built on trading Johnnie Walker for an Epiphone Les Paul and finding the divine in the distortion.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
At the Contemporary Music Center in Nashville, TN, I learned how songs were built upon layers of sounds, much like a photoshop image, versus everything having to be played all at one time. That thinking forever changed me and made me a much better artist. Here is the diagram I have used.
—————————————Fairy Dust Of The Song——————————————
—————————————Highs Of The Song——————————————-
—————————————Center Of The Song——————————————-
—————————————-Lows Of The Song——————————————
—————————————-Bottom Of The Song——————————————
The Top and Bottom Lines Are Traditionally Only Felt not so much heard.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
An Acoustic Guitar, My Notes App, Rhymezone.com (Rhyming the word armadillo is hard, ok?). Beyond that, it goes to electric guitar, a recording studio, and a producer (Like Cory Brunnemann).
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Gotta give it to Brave Days right now. I’ve been a long time fan and their latest EP Crisis is a banger, Specifically that Legacy Drive track.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
As someone who has run to and from God over and over, I consistently find myself exploring that in my music. For many years, I wanted to do music for all the wrong reasons (Girls, Party, Rock And Roll….) But as I continuously push my efforts towards using the talents He provided to make his name greater or reach others. Things seem to work out and guide my way.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
A lot of my music hinges on the idea of nostalgic hope. Yearning for yester-year but moving towards a better tomorrow and accepting the change. I also hope people understand Jesus can and will change your life if you let him. Much of my music is influenced by my faith and the Holy Spirit.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
- Even if you suck, you can make music that matters.
- “No” is the best answer you can get.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
- The Philmore in San Francisco. (Shout Out To Watsky)
- The Lila Cockrell Theatre In San Antonio (Shout Out To Brian)
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Funny enough, I’ve already hit some of my dream artists with KJ-52 and Jason Dunn of Hawk Nelson.
The one dead one is David from the bible. I have a feeling I could learn a thing or two and teach him about distortion at the same time.
A Few More On My Hit List that are still alive Are Probably
- Trevor Mcnevan Of Thousand Foot Krutch
- The Rocket Summer
- Family Force 5
All of these people were influential to me and encouraged me as a youth. From FF5 teaching me to “Shake your badonkadonk for Jesus Christ” to The Rocket Summer showing me what doing the thing yourself looks like.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Check out TheDaytimeRivalry.com or this linktree has all the links.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
My goals at the moment are to release my EP and establish myself as an artist with the ability to record, play live, and make something from my work.
Specifically, I want to get sync placements for my songs in film/TV, and play live on a regular basis. I caught the bug this past July and I want to connect with others through music more and more.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That I am a Heartfelt Jesus-Following Dad & Husband That Likes My Music Just A Little Too Loud… And I really care and think deeply about the music and lyrics I create. There’s easter eggs for anyone who takes a careful look at them.
DIY Lyric Video That Should Tell A Lot About Me And My Music Taste
