From an early age, Daniel Wesley knew he wanted to be in a band.
“I always wanted to be in a band like the Rolling Stones where everyone is like brothers,” Wesley said.
By the time the White Rock native was a teenager, he had already formed one band and was a member of various others, but it never seemed to work out long term.
“Things just kind of fell apart,” Wesley recalled. “People’s lives just fall apart sometimes, especially in the music industry.”
Instead of giving up on his musical dreams, Wesley decided to try his hand as a solo artist. He also took his parents’ advice and began learning a trade as another way to support himself and his musical dreams.
“At the time I didn’t want to do it but it was a really good idea because I got some focus and some education under my belt,” Wesley said.
Even though he worked full-time in the trades, Wesley still kept up with his music and in 2006 he released his first solo album, Outlaw, to 604 Records. The following year, he abandoned the trades entirely and has focused on music ever since.
“It really just kind of happened that I started this project and played with some different people,” Wesley said about the rebirth of his musical career.
On Friday (June 20) Wesley will play a solo show at the Dinghy Dock Pub.
“I’ve done shows at the Dinghy Dock a bunch over the last few years,” Wesley said. “It’s a fun place to play. Being a floating island like that, it’s a unique gig.”
Wesley, whose music is a unique blend of rock and reggae, will be performing tunes from his latest album, Ocean Wide, which was released last year.
“It has a little bit more of the rock influence of what I do on it,” Wesley explained. “But there are sprinkles of the other styles that I do.”
While Wesley performs his sets with a band, he will often perform as a solo artist. He explained that the adjustment from being a member of bands to being a solo artist has been difficult at times.
“That’s been the biggest challenge, making all the decisions and making all the right decisions,” Wesley said.
“It’s a been a real huge learning curve since I’ve been doing it as my job for the last seven years and I am thankful for the lessons that I’ve learned.”
Wesley performs Friday at 8 p.m. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/danielwesleyband.
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