Photo Credits : Bobin James

I presume many of us are already familiar with the bands Tesseract and Skyharbor. Some may have even heard of Piano, Haji’s Kitchen or Absent Hearts. If you have ever listened to these bands before, it is quite obvious that you have been almost instantaneously taken aback by the sheer vocal brilliance and astounding performance of their frontman, Daniel Tompkins. In OpenMic’s first ever interview, we take a look at how Daniel started off as a musician, his musical inspirations, his opinions on various matters ranging from music piracy to Skyharbor’s new album and much more. Enjoy folks!

Q 1 : Could you provide us with a little background information? When did you first start singing and become interested in music?

Ans : I started taking my voice seriously when I was certain I wanted to have a future in music. 12 years later I am still developing and striving for perfection. Music has always been at the centre of my spiritual self.

Q 2 : How did you first discover metal?

Ans : At the age of 16 I was heavily into the Nu-Metal scene with the likes of Limp Bizkit, Korn, System of a Down, Linkin Park etc.

Q 3 : What bands/artists would you say heavily influence your music and your singing style?

Ans : My biggest influences have to be Maynard Keenan, Chino Moreno, and Michael Jackson (for real).

Q 4 : How would you describe Skyharbor’s music and what makes it different from other bands in the genre?

Ans : It has a life and soul. The music breathes and evolves that’s what makes it different.

Q 5 : Did you feel that you had initially needed to change a bit of your singing style during the switch over to Skyharbor?

Ans : I never try and be anything other than myself. My vocals are an instinctive response to the music they’re written for. It has to be a fluid and natural process.

Q 6 : What sort of approach do you take when singing to the Skyharbor tracks?

Ans : The same approach I always take. I respond to the music with a very spiritual connection.

Q 7 : How do you think Skyharbor’s music is different from your other projects? Was there anything in particular in the music that caught your attention at first?

Ans : 1. The Atmosphere 2. Quality songwriting

Q 8 : With the current state of the music industry and decline of CD sales, it’s become increasingly difficult for bands to make a living from their music. What is your opinion on music piracy?

Ans : People seem to think I make money from my music, truth be told I’ve never made a profit, I do this for the love. It’s a hard game. I don’t mind people ripping songs as long as they buy it later.

Q 9 : Are there any other upcoming shows/tours for fans to look forward to?

Ans : There will be lots going on in the future. The only thing to do is keep an eye out on my artist page for upcoming news http://www.facebook.com/danieltompkinsvocalist

Q 10 : What does music mean to you? Do you think of it as a profession or as a hobby?

Ans : Get it right and it can be both. Music is a way of life and part of what I am, it’s always been this way.

Q 11 : What is your advice to all the struggling band and artists out there?

Ans : Perfect your art, strive to be different, keep the faith and develop a hard skin, you’ll need it.

Q 12 : You had previously toured India with Tesseract and now recently with Skyharbor. What changes have you noticed in the metal scene there?

Ans : The scene is strong and seems to be growing at a fast rate. I hope to continue to be a part of it for years to come.

Q 13 : How much potential do you think the metal scene has in India right now?

Ans : It has the potential to draw worldwide artists and become a hotspot for touring musicians on a much larger scale.

Q 14 : So what are your current plans for now? Any other bands you plan on collaborating with?

Ans : I have a few albums in the pipeline to be released this year. Absent Hearts – August Earth, Haji’s Kitchen – 2012 and also my second release with Piano, yet to be named.

Q 15 : What is your most memorable experience as a musician?

Ans : Well there are too many to mention. I’ve been very lucky over the years to tour worldwide through music. I’ve met some incredible people and seen places some people only dream of, the whole journey has been unforgettable.

Fan Questions:

Q 16 : Okay so here is our first fan question for you from Chris Balay. Where and how do you find inspiration for your lyrics to go with the sound of your music?

Ans : Hi Chris. I’m a dreamer, you know that place of complete relaxation when you’re just about to fall asleep inbetween the consious and subconsious, well that’s where I find all my inspiration. I listen to ideas and sleep on them… I often wake up in the middle of the night, reach for my iphone and record whispered ideas. Nearly the whole of ‘One’ was inspired by subconsious dreams.

Q 17 : Second fan question from Saurav Lakhmani. What do you do to keep your voice in such a great condition and how much do you practice?

Ans : Hi Saurav, I’ve practiced and trained my voice for over 12 years now and I’m still searching for stronger tone and control. I practice daily whether that’s just humming or going through my tailored excercises. The key is to take delicate care of your voice. It’s the only one you’ll ever have.

Q 18 : Well, that’s all of the questions we have for you, Dan. Thanks a lot for your time. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Ans : Lots in the pipeline. Stay in touch and maybe i’ll see you sooner than you think.

Photo Credits : Sukrit Nagaraj