Solo artist Dan Rose is an exciting songwriter and performer, who puts his thoughts on things such as sustainability, climate action and a minimalistic approach to life, into songs using only his acoustic guitar and his characteristic DIY approach.

Rose’s songs could be called modern protest songs, and he is never afraid of sharing his feelings of inadequacy or his frustration about the state of the world with his listeners – always with a sense of down to earth charm and warm presence.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Dan about the latest music, AI in the music industry, dream collabs, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

AI (aka Artificial Intelligence aka Chat GPT 4.0)… How is it changing the music world? What are your thoughts about it?

I am in now way clever enough to have something interesting to say about specific technology itself, but I think that every time some world-changing phenomen or invention comes around, there’s both reason to be excited and scared. New possibilities to make the world a better place is great, but what are the downsides? If this is used in the wrong way, what will the outcome be? Humans are clever, but not perfect. We can do so much good, but we also have the power to destroy everything. Will this be good for musicians and songwriters in the long run? Can it help us figure out a way to live more sustainbe lives on this planet? Or will it make everything worse? Let’s hope for the best and let each of us be careful about how things evolve, shall we?

Can you choose a favorite song of all time? Or is this an impossible task? 

Yeah that really is one of those questions that are almost impossible to answer because the answer can change any moment, know what I mean? Right now, in this very second, I’ll say that my favorite song of all time is the political themed 1998 hit song “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” by the Manic Street Preachers from their album “This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours”. I want to mention that entire long title and everything because I think it’s so awesome that they care more about what they say than how they are perceived, in a way. The intent and the meaning behind the song makes it so powerful. It’s a beautiful rock song and it really taught me that music can convey difficult truths and has real meaning behind them. There’s enough love songs in the world already.

You released your new single ‘No Music On A Dead Planet’ recently. What about this song makes you most proud? What were you trying accomplish with it?

With this song ‘No Music On A Dead Planet’ I definitely had a creative goal for myself, as I often do when I write songs. I wanted to pay tribute to the organization ‘Music Declares Emergency’ who started the campaign from which I took the title. They advocate for positive climate actions and we are a lot of musicians and artists who have signed their declaration and joined them in helping to keep the conversations going and encouraging action. They have been a big source of inspiration for me, providing me with hope for a better future, helping to ease my climate anxiety and general belief that everything is fucked. We can do better and we can do it together. 

What about your upcoming album? Is this song part of that?

Yeah it is, the album is coming out some time after the summer and this year I have shared 3 songs from it so far. The entire album is is incredibly homemade in a DIY-sense, from the early production and recording, the mixing and so on all the way to the cassette-tape version with the handcrafted cover for it. It practically screams DIY and lo-fi, so cool  – and all the music relates to the climate crisis, climate activism, the fight for a more sustainable future for the world and in our private lives. We can do better. There are songs about tiny houses, climate activism, greenwashing, oil companies, the economy and more. The album is going to be titled ‘This House Is On Fire’ which is inspired by a hero of mine, Greta Thunberg.

What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

I am inspired to create music and songs to express what I have in my heart and mind and soul. There is no sense  in me trying to write a hit or something the mainstream will like when I am creating, I can’t do that, trying to please the algorithm. It’s pure self-expression and that often times shines through when I show the world my work and practically no one cares hahaha. It’s too raw, or it’s not auto-tuned, they say. Well, that’s kinda how I work, you know. It’s lo-fi, it’s honest and real, deal with it. What does that mean to you? Can you only find value or meaning in things that are pleasing to your ears? To your eyes? The world is messy and beauty often lies beneath the surface. But still, every time I share a song or something, there’s always someone that appreciates it and find some kind of connetion with it. That motivates me to keep going, to connect with the people out there who wants to hear that there is someone they can relate to and find something that helps them feel less alone and make more sense of this crazy world. It’s big words, I know, but in the end it’s all about how we connect with people around us and I am right here, feel free to reach out.

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why?

Well I would love to be in the studio with the aforementioned Manic Street Preachers, but I fear that I might just be in their way, know what I mean? Hahaha. They are a very determined band who knows what they want to do and how. But also the band Bright Eyes and their sometimes-solo artist front man Conor Oberst, I would love to collaborate with them, they have written and recorded an incredible amount of songs and they are pretty used to collaborate with others, so I actually think I might be able to not be in their way and do something cool. There are so many cool artist out there and I hope to collaborate more. I actually do collaborate with a cool and very DIY and lo-fi folkpunk-artist named Waschbier (https://www.instagram.com/wasch.bier/), we have done a few songs together and more is coming. I am also hoping to do a song with Garrett Devaughn (https://www.instagram.com/garrettdevaughnmusic/) who is a great storyteller, he sings and plays ukulele. He is very versatile and is always interesting to listen to and follow on Instagram. Oh and this new Danish band Trefork (https://www.instagram.com/treforkband), they’ve released two singles so far and played a few shows and there’s a great sense of enjoyment in their brand of experiemental 70’s rock brought into the new millenium with a sense of indie rock. It would be cool to collaborate with them in some way one day. Maybe I should give them a call.

What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?

Damn, a few of us had a fun time last night singing along to old Bon Jovi tunes, especially ‘Bed Of Roses’. Man, that’s a big song, hadn’t heard that in a loing time. We had a nice time celebrating the release of a song with some beer and wine, gotta remember to celebrate, right?. But yeah, I’m often listening to Manic Street Preachers, Bright Eyes, Local News Legend (https://www.instagram.com/localnewslegend/), Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Elliott Smith, Pat The Bunny, Neutral Milk Hotel, Billy Bragg, Ryan Adams, The Mountain Goats, Daniel Johnston and so on. That’s enough right now, don’t you think. Taylor Swift. Let me also just mention New York-based indie-americana band The Belle Curves (https://www.instagram.com/the.belle.curves/), they’re a cool indie band in the truest and most positive and nice sense of that phrase. Okay I’m stopping here. Nirvana.

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

My website (danrosedk.com) is the absolute best place to find all my stuff and links including that upcoming casette-tape when it’s ready, so you should go there and from there you can also join me with your e-mail, so I can let you know when stuff happens. Other than that I have a profile on most platforms, but I mostly enjoy being on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/danrosedk/), connecting with others and chatting in the DMs. Find me there and say hi.

I appreciate your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways? 

Thanks, glad to do it. Join me on my website, follow me on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/1aNVBdR7S8oL4JZkurRe79?si=OUSLxOhaTp2MgmV0V9u3Eg) or where else you enjoy music, say hi to me on Instagram. That’s a lot, I know, but that really is how simple it is to maybe make a new friend, right? Hope to see you soon.