Dance Myth The Shapes We Make

Dan Smith (get it?) from Listener's solo project!

Dan's journey in art and music is about refining rough ideas and expressing emotion. He began creating 'lo-fi emo hip-hop' music in the 90s in the Ozark Mountains under the name Listener. Over the years, he recorded eight albums with the duo Labklik and three with Deepspace5. In 2002, he transitioned to a full-time solo career, performing extensively in over 30 countries. In 2007 and 2008, Listener evolved into a band where Dan took on multiple roles, leading to a distinctive musical style he describes as "Talk Music." His latest album, "The Shapes We Make," is a deeply personal work that marks a return to solo artistry.

Dan aims to balance his passions, including art, music, and his work as a mental health therapist in Kansas City. One guiding mantra throughout his career has been: "Making the music that you are going to need, but you just don't know it yet." His good friend Chris Nelson was instrumental in launching Listener, and together they transformed from musical partners to best friends, touring relentlessly and evolving their sound.

The album "Wooden Heart," created during a continuous tour in 2008-2009, garnered a devoted fanbase and marked a significant expansion in their touring activities. However, the pandemic disrupted their momentum, prompting Dan to explore his roots as a solo artist. This period of reflection, combined with his experiences as a talk therapist, led him to rediscover his poetic voice and adapt to a modern interpretation of the American singer/songwriter tradition.