Toronto based singer songwriter Danny Michel is excited to tour on his tenth CD “ Matadora,” released in April.
He returns to the Slice, June 16.
Michel recorded his last couple of CDs in Belize with a well known group of Belize musicians called the Garifuna Collective.
While the Garifuna Collective aren’t on the CD, he said “Matadora” shares some musical similarities.
”Yes and no. It is different. Some of the music definitely has a Garifuna Collective feel to it still,” said Michel from a tour stop on Vancouver Island, looking over the ocean while chatting.
“I recorded this one over Christmas at home in my studio with my band,” he said of the CD which was released in April.
“The response has been great,” he said, adding he sings about a variety of topics on the CD.
“That’s a hard question. There’s some topical things and some sociopolitical songs and only one love song,” he observed.
“ It was really nice to be back home to record it,” he said, adding reviews have been very positive so far.
He is in the middle of a solo tour in support of the CD, for which most of the shows have been sold out.
“There is a lot of production on the album, but I always write songs so I can play them on my own, campfire style,” he said.
Three singles have been released for the CD so far including “ Click, Click,” “ Good Old Days” and “Samantha In The Sky With Diamonds.”
“Crowds really seem to love ‘Click, Click,” he said.
Michel’s show is right in the middle of the Lethbridge Jazz Festival.
“I think I have a day off then, so hopefully I will be able to check out some of it,” he said.
He has released innovative videos for the new singles.
“Click Click” features animation from Stephen Dutcheshen.
“He’s a talented guy form Toronto,” he said, adding he used vintage ’50s photos and video for “ Good Old Days.”
“ I’d like to do two or three more for this CD,” he said
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door for the June 16 show at the Slice. The show begins at 9 p.m.