Danny Vera - DNA (2023) (Hi-Res)

After the overwhelming success of 'Roller Coaster', Danny Vera's musical career took off enormously. The song broke all records, topped all charts and has now been streamed almost 100 million times on Spotify. The Netherlands found massive comfort in the song during the turbulent corona period, which, among other things, gave Danny Vera the number one position in the Top2000 of 2020. Twenty years of hard work and patient progress finally paid off in platinum records and a sold-out Ziggo Dome. And all on his own terms, without compromising on the vintage aesthetic.

However, anyone who thinks that Danny Vera will now rest on his laurels is wrong. Music is in his blood, and that blood goes where it can't go. American country, blues and rock 'n' roll is in and out.
His new album 'DNA' was created in a different way than usual for Vera. “Where it normally takes me two to three years to write twenty songs, I now wrote them in two months,” he says. “Everything really just came out spontaneously.”
The vibe of the album is noticeably different from his previous record. “I quickly noticed that there was a different atmosphere in the songs, compared to 'The New Now'. It was a bit more authentic, more rock 'n' roll & blues – and that's how the songs had to sound, as authentic as possible.”

At a time when ChatGPT spits out complete lyrics for you within seconds and all imperfections can be ironed out in the studio, it was very refreshing for Danny Vera to record everything in one go. “That's how they used to do it and that's why it sounded so good, full of fun. The imperfections are part of it, the imperfections make it perfect.”

Ultimately, sixteen songs ended up on the new album. Because the songwriter did not want to be away from his young daughter for too long, he decided to record everything in his base in Middelburg. It became the local theater, where the theater season was coming to an end and there was therefore time and space for record recordings. “I asked if I could rent it and that was possible.” Once the recording location had been arranged, he had producer Frans Hagenaars come over with a mobile studio and a cartload of old gear was collected, such as vintage microphones and guitars.

'DNA' has become an album in which Danny Vera returns to his birthplace, with songs that have their roots in the American roots music of yesteryear. Without click tracks, autotune or involvement of a writers camp. Solid songs, ranging from classic Danny Vera ballads to fresh, uptempo rock 'n' roll. A record with rough edges, but above all with strong music.

Tracklist
01. Beggin' for Trouble (2:42)
02. If Only (2:37)
03. Livin' Proof (2:40)
04. Domino, Rum-cola, Cohiba (3:32)
05. Like It Always Was (3:20)
06. DNA (3:14)
07. You Stand Beside Me (3:19)
08. Sugah Rush (2:40)
09. Pullin' Me Back (2:32)
10. Firefly (3:30)
11. Mo Money (2:41)
12. Switchblade (4:30)
13. Shadow Light (3:26)
14. When You're Crying (2:51)
15. When the Light Shines (2:50)
16. Away (3:57)