He鈥檚 making no promises, but Daniel Wesley could treat fans to some new music during his hometown performance in 91原创 next week.
The beach rocker 鈥� who plays Cascades Casino on Dec. 21 鈥� is set to release an EP and a full length album in 2018, and has yet to play any of the new songs in front of a live audience.
鈥淭he guys want to play some of those songs, they鈥檙e digging them, too鈥�. So maybe,鈥� Wesley laughed.
鈥淚 kind of want to save it all for next year. If people are coming out they probably want to listen to songs they know, but it鈥檚 possible that we might play one or two 鈥� we鈥檒l see how the rehearsal goes.鈥�
Wesley, a Brookswood Secondary School grad, first broke out onto the music scene when his song Ooo Ohh became the most requested song of 2007 at 99.3 The Fox in Vancouver.
He鈥檚 since produced eight albums 鈥� including his latest, Live at the Commodore Ballroom, released in April 鈥� and will finish mixing his first EP in January before heading into studio to record another album in the spring.
Known for creating a variety of sounds from folk to hard rock, Wesley鈥檚 new music will showcase this versatility.
鈥淒efinitely 2018 will be a big year for new music and doing live shows and all of that. The EP is going to be more rockin鈥� 鈥� they鈥檙e pretty upbeat songs and they fit together,鈥� said Wesley, who turns 36 at the end of December.
鈥淎nd then the album 鈥攚e鈥檙e still currently writing 鈥� but it鈥檚 more like the 鈥榬ootsy,鈥� 鈥榝olky鈥� kind of thing, more acoustic guitar oriented. I like doing lots of different things from reggae to rock to singer-songwriter kind of stuff.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to the juxtaposition of those pieces coming out next year.鈥�
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New music isn鈥檛 the only big thing happening in Wesley鈥檚 life.
He just sold his townhome in South Surrey and moved to 4.5 acres in Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast with his wife and two young children, ages two and four.
And even bigger, after taking an eight-year break from his career as an electrician, Wesley earned his Red Seal just a couple of weeks ago 鈥� something he has wanted to accomplish for a long time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a real juggle (doing music and electrical work) but it allows my wife to stay home with our kids, which is really important to us,鈥� Wesley said. 鈥淚鈥檓 more than happy to put my time in and do what I have to do to make it all work.鈥�
Despite the busyness of it all, Wesley says he wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way.
鈥淚鈥檓 just really thankful for everything I have in life and I feel finally set up, where we know where our home is. It鈥檚 felt like home more than ever. And with my electrical, now that that鈥檚 done 鈥� because that鈥檚 something that I鈥檝e been chipping away at for many years 鈥� I鈥檓 proud that I did it,鈥� he said.
鈥淎nd with music, I feel more confident than ever that I can just do what I want and I think that鈥檚 what people like.
鈥淧eople like variety and people who like my music like the fact that I don鈥檛 sound like the same song every time I play. And for me, it鈥檚 really encouraging that I can pick up the guitar, and if something different happens, that鈥檚 cool.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 something that I鈥檓 going to follow, and coming up on summer that鈥檚 something I鈥檓 going to do even more. The idea is that I can sit around the campfire at night and just relax.鈥�
But with many of his family members, his in-laws and friends still living in 91原创, Wesley is excited to be returning to his stomping grounds.
鈥淚鈥檓 always coming back to 91原创 to see all of them and stuff, and it seems like every Christmas we鈥檙e in 91原创. So it鈥檚 kind of nice to spend the holidays back where I grew up. It made perfect sense when the show came in, I was like, 鈥極h that鈥檚 awesome, I get to play in my hometown over the holidays.鈥欌��
And after performing many solo shows recently, Wesley is also looking forward to getting back together with his band.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 really where I do my best work, is with these guys who play with me,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hey are fantastic players, I鈥檓 really lucky to play with them and they make me better than I am. So it will be fun to get up there for a couple hours and play some tunes.鈥�
For those who have yet to see him live, Wesley promises a dynamic show.
鈥淚鈥檝e been kind of doing the same thing for 10 years here. Been putting on fun, energetic, laid-back, good dancing concerts where people can chill with their friends and family, kick back and have a good time. And just let those work worries or Christmas worries 鈥� or whatever it is 鈥� let go for a few hours to come hang with us.
鈥淎nd we just try to play music to make you feel good. It鈥檚 just what we do. There鈥檚 no pyrotechnics or choreographed moves 鈥� it鈥檚 just music from our soul.鈥�
Tickets for the show are $39.50 (plus facility fee and service charges) and can be purchased at Casino Guest Services, 604-530-2211, or online at .
entertainment@langleytimes.com
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