A Chat with Hotel California (26.04.23)
Using the intimacy of Cat Stevens with the power of The Pixies, Daniel Green enchants us with his solo project Hotel California. We speak with this talented singer-songwriter about his new album Family, musical influences, future plans and much more.
OSR: What are your musical influences?
Green: I love NPR Tiny Desk. These sessions motivate me, though I didn’t find my way into U2 sets until recently. Bob Boilen created the podcast of my life with this format on NPR and Glen Hansard is wonderful too. 25 years ago I listened to really soft music. I had no big sister or brother who taught me good style.
OSR: What attracted you to music?
Green: When I was 14 I wanted to be famous like Take That. Music was the way to get there, though I must admit I lost track on the way.
OSR: What can you tell us about your album Family?
Green: It‘s a ten-song record worth buying because you get a bunch of really personal tunes with catchy melodies and beautiful parts by my friend Carl Albrecht. He played the drums and a great solo on ‘Magical Grandma’. I love this new music because it feels “Post Corona”. Calmed in a way, relaxed and positive.
OSR: Who would you like to collaborate with?
Green: I would love to record a song with Dan Auerbach. One day I’ll send him a demo and he will invite me to Nashville. I hope for this dream to come true.
OSR: Are any of your family musicians?
Green: My brother is Thom and the Wolves. He plays in Dresden. And my son plays the cello.
OSR: Do you have any friends that are in the music industry?
Green: Not really but I know good guys there. I’m more into regional friends. We don’t live in a bigger city with real A&Rs and I don’t have time to meet important people. Jörg Tresp from Devil Duck Records is my friend, I guess. He releases The Dead South. A great guy.
OSR: Any tours coming up in the future?
Green: Just a few gigs in Northern Germany. I’m looking forward to playing in Berlin on the 26th of November in Nikodemus/ Neukölln. On October 28th I‘ll play the Relexa in Hamburg – Saturday Night Delight.
OSR: Have you been into music since you were young?
Green: I play the guitar since I was about 12 years old. My teacher himself played for the Danish Queen from time to time. One day he lent his wonderful guitar to me to play in a classic contest but I failed. In the middle of a really long track, I stepped out and never found the way back into it. So, I produce three-minute tracks now.
OSR: Do you have any interests other than music?
Green: I play football, love films and books and teach in an old but quite modern school. Family is the most important part of my life. Music is very important to me but until now I couldn’t make a living out of it. No Christmas hit, yet.
OSR: Any plans for the future?
Green: Enjoy the summer with my family, play good gigs with Hotel California and finish a comeback album for the love of my life MrBrown.
Thanks to Daniel Green for speaking with us. For more from Hotel California check out his Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
