CHRISTIAN DANIEL: THE SONG IS THE STORY

 

Originally published in the  December 2015 issue of LatinTRENDS Magazine

By Luis Vazquez

Life brings unexpected twists and turns, but listening to radio today you would think that life is one big party. This is what the music industry wants in its artists. But the public wants something more. Christian Daniel provides that.

His latest album, “Renacer,” which was released on October 23, is the diary of a man left open for all to read. When you finger the pages you see death, suffering, and faithlessness. It’s his story and he is not afraid to say what’s on his mind. “I am an honest singer,” Daniel says. “I bring honesty to my songs. I try to write the perfect words to bring that message. It works.”

The one man in Christian’s life who he proclaimed was his number one fan and foundation of his life, his father, passed away of cancer a few months ago. “It was something I wasn’t waiting for because he was perfectly fine,” Daniel shared. “He didn’t last a month. I wrote a song that wasn’t on the album.” That song, “Ahora que te vas,” which many felt was too sad to play on the radio, set off a fight between Daniel and radio people who felt that it was something the public didn’t want to hear. “We lose people we love every day.” Daniel said. “I needed to write something I could honor him for what he was in my life.” The song hit number one two weeks upon release in Puerto Rico and currently in the U.S.

Daniel had brought a more personal touch to this album. His debut as a songwriter differentiates this from all his previous projects. It also makes it the most heartfelt. “I was afraid to write before because I told myself: what if I write something that tells who I am and people reject it?” A self-professed “very spiritual person,” he went deep to bring out his soul. “It’s my essence. I can’t think of anything [in the album] I haven’t gone through.”

 He remained true to himself even when others bestowed titles on him such as “Latin Pop‘s new leading voice.””Latin Pop is the way people relate to things in life,” Daniel exclaimed. “In my perspective, people are tired of hearing the same thing. Suddenly I come with this and people are, ‘Wow!’ Now they are going after what I’m doing because it’s something fresh.” Now an independent artist with a team that he feels is behind him, he left the world of labels. “There is great talent that is sitting and waiting. I was that guy. I’m not him anymore.”

 Christian Daniel attracts because he not only knows how to use his voice, but knows how to make people feel what he does. “A good song will always make a difference no matter who paints it.” His brushstrokes highlight who he is now as he completes his tenth year in the business. “I’m a humble guy that’s just trying to make it, to get a piece of the world. I’m a fighter.”