Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Bankhurst.
Hi Dan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Well, if I’m being completely honest haha, I’m not sure I’m totally worthy to be featured as an inspiring story, but at the essence of my craft has always been the desire to inspire other people, so I’m really grateful to be sharing my story. Music, and specifically creating music, has always been at the forefront of what I feel is my purpose in life. I grew up hearing my father and older brother playing blues guitar as far back as I can remember.
Before I picked up an actual guitar, around the age of 10-11, I had been purely listening to my brother and dad play for several years. I became intrigued myself and when I picked up the guitar for the first time—it quickly became my greatest passion in life. I was immediately drawn to the magic that could come out of touching the guitar a certain way, creating certain tones, frequencies, harmonies, etc. I don’t like to think of myself as a certain genre guitarist/artist, as I have so many influences and am inspired by so many styles including, jazz, blues, soul, reggae, indie, folk, pop classic rock, punk, metal, and world music as well.
The first band I was a part of was in high school with some of my best friends at the time. We had something really special, more along the lines of a jam band kind thing that fused many styles together and actually ended up recording an EP that is still fun to listen to. Over the years I have played with all different kinds of bands/instrumentations, including many solo guitar gigs as well. Most of my 20’s I played solo guitar gigs in the style Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, and Tommy Emmanuel. When I discovered the thumbpick while learning fingerstyle guitar, the direction of my playing and creations changed significantly. If you find yourself becoming bored of playing with a flat pick, I totally recommend giving Travis-style, or fingerstyle guitar a shot. It’s such a fun and inspiring style. In my 20s I recorded 2 albums, but later on, wasn’t happy enough with the recordings to release them on streaming services.
In 2015 I relocated from Cleveland, OH (where I am originally from) to Nashville, TN, where I’ve been ever since. I finished a degree in Liberal Studies from Belmont University and met some of my best friends/greatest musical collaborators there as well. Since 2015 I’ve played many shows in the Nashville area and have mostly stayed playing local, besides a few small short solo tours here and there.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My goodness haha – it has been anything but a smooth road! I struggled quite a bit personally and interpersonally in certain areas of my life over the past 10 years, which I feel adversely affected my overall energy, drive, and passions. Also, I can’t count how many times I’ve been rejected in this industry, so that’s just one thing you get used to pretty quickly. In college, I studied a minor in music business and realized that I didn’t want anything to do with the business side of music. I’m much more interested in the creation of music, and sharing that with as many people in the world that can benefit from it – either from a healing/medicinal standpoint or just for enjoyment.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well, I’m a multi-instrumentalist, but primarily guitarist that lives in Nashville. I play so many different styles but play quite a bit of fingerstyle guitar in the style of Chet Atkins/Merle Travis. I’m just as passionate about many other avenues of music, including acoustic folk, psychedelic rock, indie/folk, ambient music. I’d like to release more bodies of work in the way of what I mentioned above.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m really into hippos, ha! I’ve been into hippos as long as I can remember. I started playing ‘hungry hippos’ around the age of 2-3 and the rest is history. I probably have about 20 hippo figurines currently at my house… shhh! 🙂
Contact Info:
- Email: danbank88@gmail.com
- Website: www.danbankhurst.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danbankhurst/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Danbankhurstmusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvTRkRt4OaLgzjQg_0tGAwA
Image Credits
Abby Potter
