Discovering his musical voice in his late teens, Dan Dyer quickly rose to prominence in Austin, TX during the late 90s with the much-heralded band Breedlove. After touring with Breedlove, Dyer found his way into commercial songwriting, with songs placed in marketing campaigns for Budweiser, Chevrolet, Dr. Pepper, and Campbell's Soup. Dyer ended up heading north and getting a bit of a "New York education", where he collaborated with veteran rock legend Lenny Kravitz, who produced and released Dyer's first solo album in 2005, ...Of What Lies Beneath, on Kravitz's Reprise imprint label Roxie Records. After a year of touring behind the album, Dyer took a season to winter from performing - living in St. Louis, raising a family, and continuing to write commercial tunes.
In 2007, Dyer returned to Austin, his musical birthplace, to record a new album. This self-titled release, named one of the top 10 local albums of 2008 by the Austin Chronicle and Austin American-Statesman, has a strong cadence that ties the album together and entices one to discover its many intrinsic subtleties. From the chain gang inspired sound of "Love Chain" to the gospel-tinged "I Walk On Guilded Splinters," and Stewart Copeland-esque syncopations of "Play on Little Children," Dyer and producer David Boyle weave a diverse fabric that extends beyond conventional musical boundaries.
Dyer's soul-revivalist live performance draws from a wealth of influences, including Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, and Bill Withers, bringing with him a lengthy catalog of songs, many recorded, but still unreleased. After seasons spent in New Orleans and the South, and gathering inspiration from greats like Dr. John, Dyer has taken on a voodoo-centric stage persona. The audience is treated to a special brand of commotion as Dyer switches from piano to guitar, sometimes performing with a boyish grin, and other times with a perspiring concentration. Dan Dyer's voice and performance intensity are raw and hot, yet soulful and sensitive, drawing in fans from all walks of life.
