i-GOTNEXT: Daniel Merriweather

Daniel Paul Merriweather (born 1982 in Melbourne, Australia) is an R&B singer/songwriter. After several successful collaborations with artists such as Mark Ronson, he released his debut album, Love And War, in June 2009.It entered the UK Albums Chart at number two. Two singles from the album charted in the top ten of the UK Singles Chart, "Change" at #8 and "Red" at #5.

I know Daniel as the emotive voice on his producer Mark Ronson’s chart-busting cover of The Smiths ‘Stop Me’. Since, 26 year old Daniel Merriweather swapped the streets of Melbourne Australia for the hustle of Manhattan, downtown NYC. Musically posses humour and self awareness, articulateness and worldliness that belies his tender years.
MUSIC VIDEO "STOP ME"


Stop Me (featuring Daniel Merriweather)



Born and bred in a blue-collar area in Melbourne's outer east, Daniel Paul Merriweather was one of three boys born to teacher parents. He started playing violin when at four, the Suzuki violin; By 13 was playing Vivaldi concertos. As a teen, Daniel was distracted a lot, and ended up getting himself into trouble. After getting his act together. He got a job at kfc, but that only lasted for a couple of months. Which led to him perusing music.....

Influenced by r&b and hip hop in the 90s. And a self-aware interest into anything that meant something vocally or if someone made a good sound with their voice, D’angelo, Boyz II Men, Nas, Thom Yorke, Otis Redding, Jeff Buckley. Realizing that singing doesnt have TO BE complicated. Emotion from your vocals can take you a long way...

Gaining attention in Australia, and signing with indie-label Marlin, he begun work on tracks for his debut album that he would later shelve before release .Courted by major labels there, few could see beyond the marketplace and how this voice could sit alongside the home-grown rock music that dominated the charts at the time. his demos came to the attention of Mark Ronson who instantly fell in love with his voice. Signed him to his label Allido Records .



After signing to Ronson’s label, Allido, in 2004. And 18 months of writing and recording, punctuated by months on the road touring with Ronson’s Version Players band, he released his debut in June 1st 2009.

He and Ronson were in Las Vegas for MTV’s Video Music Awards, where Ronson was the house DJ and Merriweather performed...

In Love & War, Daniel has shaped a record pieced together with clever pop production and the slick and smooth contemporary neo-soul sound that also blurs musical genres together to create an album of just skillfully written songs being played quality musicans.

"Change" was released in February 2009. It featured rapper Wale and reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, marking his second top ten single placing. It was written by Merriweather and Andrew Wyatt and produced by Mark Ronson. It was released on January 30, 2009 in the United States and Canada, and February 2, 2009 in the UK (where the song peaked at no.8).


MUSIC VIDEO: CHANGE


THE MAKING OF CHANGE
Daniel Merriweather 'Change' - Making Of


"Red" was released in May 2009. The song debut on the UK Singles Chart at 5, making it his second top ten as the lead vocalist.In the next weeks chart it was announced that it had stayed at 5 for a second week and the week after it was also charted at #5. On June 14 it was announced that the song was #5 for a 4th consecutive week.[11] The song debut on the Irish Singles Chart at 36, marking it the first Daniel Merriweather song, with him as a lead vocalist, to chart in the country. On the next weeks chart it rose 13 places to 23 and rose again on the following weeks chart 7 places to 16.It was produced by Mark Ronson, like the rest of the songs on his album. Merriweather said that this song "is about the blindness of war and the absence of compassion displayed by western administrations.

MUSIC VIDEO: RED
Daniel Merriweather - Red


The video for this song was shot in Brooklyn, New York and was directed by Anthony Mandler. The video was released on 15 April 2009 on Daniel Merriweather's official YouTube account.

LOVE AND WAR
Tracklisting
1."For Your Money"
2."Impossible"
3."Change" (feat. Wale)
4."Chainsaw"
5."Cigarettes"
6."Red"
7."Could You"
8."Not Giving Up"
9."Getting Out"
10."Water and a Flame" (feat. Adele)
11."Live by Night"
12."Giving Everything Away for Free"
13."The Children" (Exclusive to iTunes)


‘Getting Out’ is about thinking you mean the world to someone but realising actually you don’t, they were sick of you without you ever knowing it

‘Cigarettes’ is about the idea of “fucking up” all the time, ”

‘Chainsaw’ is about a dysfunctional relationship that is more destructive than good, but can also be applied to mankind’s gravitation to the bottle.

‘Impossible’ it is simply about putting everything down, and whilst its subject matter is sad, its shuffle is infectious.

‘For Your Money’ documents his relationship with his adopted home. it’s bombast is more uplifting than depressing, with Sean Lennon channelling his father’s spirit on a rousing guitar solo and a reprise that screams of hope and not despair.


Birth name Daniel Paul Merriweather
Born January 1982
Origin Melbourne, Australia
Genre(s) R&B, Acid jazz
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active 2002–present
Label(s) Marlin Records (Australia)
Allido Records (US & UK)
J Records (US)
RCA (UK)
Universal (Australia)
Associated acts Mark Ronson
Phrase

Website www.danielmerriweather.com