Danielson as they are today started as Brother
Daniel's senior college
thesis project. Their first show? His final for his degree--he got an A.
Even though Daniel wrote many of their songs 6 years ago, the family shies
away from copious rehearsing. These songs are intentionally integrated
with a creative, improvisational quality they couldn't practice if they
tried: songs dependent on the interaction of the moment, the spirit, and
the
rediscovery of sounds and patterns made by people who know each other
very well.
There's no hard distinction between their music and visuals (costumes,
graphics). "One enters your heart through your eyes, one through your
ears," says Daniel. They now sport hand-made, slightly old-fashioned
doctors' and nurses' uniforms while performing-- "it fits in with our
comfort and healing aspect" --and they wear their hearts on their sleeves,
literally. Daniel also makes a line of "Danny Goodys"--blinders,
pillowcases, patches along the same themes as Danielson, and he and Rachel
are collaborating on a children's story.
From Clarksboro, New Jersey but 15 minutes from Philadelphia, is still
worlds away from any kind of open-mindedness. "I was threatened a lot
as a
teenanger," recalls Daniel. Before Danielson, he spent time in a
performance art/noise band formed as a reaction to the environment of this
farm town. Now, their shared history as a family is the foundation of
their art, and also their home. Danielson now exist to make one smile and
feel comforted.