Former Ballina musician Dan Hannaford gets his big break
Dan Hannaford is fast becoming a name to listen out for. The 31-year-old singer-songwriter is ‘grinning from ear to ear’ after receiving a huge boost to his music career — he has been awarded a Star Development Deal from Sony Music Entertainment.
Dan, who lives at Currumbin on the Gold Coast, grew up in Ballina and is the son of former Ballina Uniting Church minister John Hannaford.
Dan’s love of music began at the tender age of 9 years old learning the organ and playing for quiet, conservative church services.
Now a pub rocker, Dan regularly performs at Ballina and Northern Rivers pubs and venues.
Dan’s parents and younger sister still live in the Ballina.
He arrived back on the Gold Coast this week from Melbourne where he performed for some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Dan was invited to Melbourne to attend the the Dream Inc music workshops held at Melbourne Town Hall.
Lynn Jaanz, a singing teacher who has worked with successful recording artists such as Delta Goodrem, saw Dan performing his original music at a Gold Coast restaurant a few months back and encouraged him to attend.
Jaanz told Dan she believed he has what it takes to make his dream of becoming an international singer a reality. Record companies would be on the lookout for new talent at the workshops.
It turns out the record label representatives agreed. Even rockstar Stu Macleod of band Eskimo Joe gave Dan his vote.
Dan was named the winner of a Sony Development Deal at the one-day Rock workshop. He was awarded the deal by head of SONY A&R Ross Fraser before TV cameras, famous faces and the hundreds of workshop participants.
The man who discovered and signed Madonna, music business executive Seymour Stein is widely regarded as having the best ears in the business when it comes to discovering new talent.
Stein commented on Dan’s talent when he won the award, saying that Dan’s songwriting reminded him of country music legend Hank Williams.
On being interviewed by the record label panel, Dan spoke of his musical influences as being Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and John Fogerty from Credence Clearwater Revival. “That guy just wrote hit after hit song” Dan said.
In response Stein noted ‘yeah John’s a Good friend of mine’.
Dan will gain invaluable experience and contacts and will now be flown to Sydney to record with some of the best in the business at Sony Studios. He will work with top A&R reps over a week-long period to produce a professional demo to further his career.
“I’m so stoked and grateful,” Dan said.
“This sort of thing just doesn’t happen everyday; it’s a huge break for me.
“I don’t think I’m the greatest singer. I can write songs but my songs are pretty raw. I think they liked that. They liked my rough edges, which is cool.
“I guess I stood out because I was different from the highly-trained voices. There were some amazing singers there.”
Catch Dan Hannaford when he returns to Ballina next month to play The Australian Hotel on October 30.
