Check Out Dan Petti’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Petti. 

Dan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been dedicated to music in many different ways for most of my life. I learned piano, guitar, voice, and several other instruments. When I was young, I would sit in my room and play guitar (or air guitar) along to my favorite albums for hours. I loved radio and dreamed of being a radio host, so I would pretend I had a radio show, play different CDs in my boom box, and talk in between songs. I played in several bands during my teens and early twenties. I also taught guitar privately for many years. After graduating, I completed a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Guitar, and then I decided to enter the teaching profession (instead of radio/journalism) and found my passion teaching music at a middle school. I still do that to this day. Due to many injuries and health issues during my mid to late twenties, I gave up on pursuing my own music and focused on just teaching. Since 2018, I rediscovered my songwriting passion, which turned into more time in Nashville and writing with people all over North America trying to pitch our songs to artists and publishers. I love writing songs with other established artists and helping them find their voice through our songs. I’ve since reduced my teaching hours to focus on my own music, and I’ve released 3 singles this past year to kickstart my own artist career. I have many shows booking up for 2022 as we hopefully move out of this pandemic, and I have a substantial catalog of songs I am prepared to release over the next few years. I’m very hopeful, and just enjoying this incredible journey. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but I’ve tried to be in the moment and remain positive. My earlier years with my band were full of good times, but unfortunately, we were not able to make things work, and then as we all got jobs to pay the bills, the desire to play shows and invest in recordings fizzled out. Personally, I was in so much pain from various injuries to my hip, foot, back, and neck, and I was preoccupied with a crazy amount of appointments, as well as 2 surgeries. I went from gigging and writing all the time, to playing one show a year and only writing a handful of songs. I even had a Grad recital for my university music degree that I had to cancel due to the amount of pain I was in during my early twenties. I still regret that to this day. Luckily, I was recently able to find a few physical therapists and doctors who have been able to help me, and I was able to exercise and get back into enough shape that I could go back to playing guitar and singing. I still have trouble playing for long periods of time, but I feel like I am out of the darkness and ready to take on the music career that I wish I started years ago. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I now mainly write songs in the Country/Folk genre. I’ve explored some Pop writing as well. when writing and co-writing, I specialize in guitar and chord Harmony, but I still take my melody and lyric writing very seriously as well, and always strive to keep improving that. 

I’m known for my deeper emotional lyrics, creative guitar riffs, and fun banter and crowd engagement from the stage. 

I’m most proud of the meaningful songs I’ve written for certain loved ones, my live show, and my passion and drive to work through all the tough times to still be able to release my first official songs in my thirties. I also have always been terrible with technology, but in the past year, I’ve taken the time to finally learn about audio engineering/production, and am now getting into producing my own music, which I never thought I’d ever be able to do. Lately, my mindset is to not let anything stop me. I really appreciate my friends and loved ones who have supported me to this point. 

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always open to meeting more people and collaborating, whether it is jamming/performing together, or co-writing a song. I co-write in person, or on video-call, and people can reach me through my social media accounts. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://danpetti.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danpettimusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danpettimusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/danpettimusic2014

Image Credits
Rob Morgan Photography
Sam Yeldon Photography