Interview with Darin Warner
by Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show
Lamitschka: Music has many new fans throughout Europe who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you?
Darin Warner: For anyone who feels the country spirit, or about to discover it through my music, here is the adventure into the soul that country music was meant to be. Through talent and craftsmanship, my melodies evoke emotion and mere words are elevated to poetry. Here, in music and lyrics, I expose the heart of a man.
Lamitschka: What is your latest CD and how’s it doing?
Darin Warner: CD:No Regrets The CD has several singles that have been released & made impressive chart positions. Some of the chart recent chart positions include: The year 2011 titled him: #1 ‘HOT’ Country Artist / #1-NATIONAL Country Artist / Top #10-GLOBAL Country Artist (Reverbnation)/ #1-GLOBAL Americana Chart (Reverbnation) & his fan base is exploding as the Globe hears his music! Darin Warner has held the position of : *#1-NATIONAL Country Charts for AUSTRALIA, GERMANY, IRELAND & The Netherlands. His song, BOTTOM OF A GLASS has held the title of “MOST PLAYED SONG” on Europe’s Top #100 Radio Airplay. So far-Janurary 2012 Chart Positions have been:
*Jan 1- Reverbnation (Americana Chart)
#1-GLOBAL / #1-NATIONAL / #1-LOCAL
*January 1, 2012:
ECMA-Top #100: #35-Bottom of a Glass / #85-Crossroads
#1-Crossroads (Denmark)
Available at the following:
My current CD’s & Downloads are available at-
Itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/darin-warner/id277396860
CD Universe: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8232465 -OR-
CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/DarinWarner
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/No-Regrets-Darin-Warner/dp/B003VST63K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1312988508&sr=8-3
Lamitschka: How did you choose the title for the CD? Is there a story behind the name?
Darin Warner: The title track is NO REGRETS. As I sat with my Grandfather, when he faced his last days of life, he looked at me & told me to ‘live my life with No Regrets.’ I went home, wrote the song & it became the foundation for the CD.
Lamitschka: Your current single is being played by radio. What do you feel is special about this song that makes people want to hear it?
Darin Warner: “I won’t sing it, if I ain’t lived it” – It is my ‘motto!’ People like to listen to it because they can relate to it. We all can relate to things we wish we had done…or hadn’t done. We all know someone who has passed & we all have sat around with friends talking about how things have been in our past that brought us to where we are. We have all had those moments in life when we have wondered if we ‘should or shouldn’t’ do something. The thing that makes us take the chance is the voice from someone in our life who is whispering in our mind-Do it with No Regrets.
Lamitschka: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?
Darin Warner: Songs that have a message. Songs that the first time someone hears them, they can ‘sing along’ with because they feel familiar. Songs that make people want to dance in front of the stage or stand there & sing along with me. Songs that people listen to on the cd that they hit ‘replay.’ Nothing is greater than having fans sing along with my songs at a show.
Lamitschka: How much creative control do you have over your music?
Darin Warner: I try to stay 100% involved in all of my music. Most of the time, the first draft becomes a bunch of scribbles & arrows & scrached out phrases on a piece of paper until the end is what I want it to say. Not a day goes by that a new song isn’t running around in my mind.
Lamitschka: Who inspires you musically and how deep do your musical roots run?
Darin Warner: Despite living in the country, not many shared my passion for all things Country, but it was a young man’s search for expression, and I would come to know two things: I was born to sing and play, and I had found a vehicle in country music where a man could express his emotions. It was the singular, inevitable outcome: I set my soul to words and music. It’s been said of me that “Merle Haggard and George Jones couldn’t have asked for a better student”. And like any good student, I learned from the best, then set my own unique path. Having paid my dues and achieved success in my own backyard, my focus is now on a broader world stage, and set on expanding my audience within the Country music industry.
Lamitschka: As an artist, you so many tasks such as recording, touring, interviews. What do you like best, what’s your favorite activity?
Darin Warner: Definitely performing…having my guitar in my hand, singing my songs & meeting people. Sharing life through my music.
Lamitschka: Are you doing anything to take music beyond its current borders or are you happy where it is?
Darin Warner: Currently building my 2012 NO REGRETS International Tour which will hopefully take me around the United States, into Canda & across Europe! It may take 2013 to get to all of the places I hope to get to-but, with things going the right way it will all come to be.
Lamitschka: What inspired you to become an artist?
Darin Warner: I lived a life that reads like one of the many country songs he has written and performed. From my modest beginnings amidst a bleak Australian landscape, I soon learned that Life had even harsher realities to offer: acceptance did not come easy, when roaming from town to town in attempt at a living; farming offered backbreaking work, but no promise of reward; feeling abandoned was easy, when times are hard, and a family dynamic becomes even harder.
Lamitschka: What inspired you to become a songwriter?
Darin Warner: Fortunately, Music was the only thing that didn’t cost anything”, and I was immersed in it from a young age. My memories from that time are of sitting with his ear glued to the record player as I listened to Merle Haggard and George Jones, and of standing at the front of a stage watching my dad, himself a struggling country musician, perform the classics. Music would be my escape from the realization that I came from a world where men were men, and boys were not invited. It was a hardened emotional landscape, as well, and giving voice to tender thoughts was not welcome there.
Lamitschka: What’s unique about you that will differentiate you from other artists?
Darin Warner: A life-long Australian who continues to have a strong music career in my ‘homeland,’ I am incredibly comfortable taking my Country music around the world. I can talk with anyone about anything.
Lamitschka: What has been your greatest challenge in music business?
Darin Warner: Getting a ‘break’ & building a support team of people that I can trust are in sync with me. We are all traveling in the same direction, with the same goals & balance each other’s strengths as well as weaknesses. We mesh together to create the best end product.
Lamitschka: When you get time off, how do you like to relax?
Darin Warner: Play my guitar, write new songs, FISH & cook. I enjoy cooking, especially on the Barby & enjoy time on the boat.
Lamitschka: Many European fans travel to the United States to attend the several of the music festivals for the opportunity to see so many of their favorite artists, bands and celebrities. Will you be participating and how will the fans be able to find you?
Darin Warner: I sure hope so! I’m trying to get booked in as many as I can around the US. I will post shows all over my pages on reverbnation & facebook.
Lamitschka: What can your fans expect to see when they see you in concert?
Darin Warner: A show that will have them on their feet. A professional, polished reflection of traditional Country Music. Hopefully, they will see a show that they want to bring their friends to next time & tell everyone they know.
Lamitschka: Many music fans today get their information about artists online. Do you have your own website and what will fans find there?
Darin Warner: Reverbnation.com/darinwarner , Video is on Youtube: youtube.com/preciouspromotions , Myspace.com/darinwarner , Facebook.com/darinwarner
I’m also on a wide assortment of other sites like: SoundClick, SoundCloud & many Internet Radio Stations.
Lamitschka: What message would you like to send your European fans?
Darin Warner: I look forward to bring my Country Music to all of you. The charts tell me you love my music & want me there. I’m looking forward to it…invite me! 🙂
Christian Lamitschka ( CountryMusicNewsInternational@googlemail.com )
www.CountryMusicNewsInternational.blogspot.com