Musician's 'roots rock' runs deep

By Jonathan D Roberts

Publication: Daily Breeze (Torrance, California)

No matter what you call his music, Danny Hamilton's sound is catching on in a big way, bringing an urban flavor to the country genre.

A Torrance native and resident, Hamilton has found himself among the finalists of Country Music Television's "Music City Madness," a nationwide online country music competition.

Hamilton is one of two contestants remaining after an initial 1,600 musicians recorded or filmed a performance of an original song and submitted the entry for public voting.

Heavily influenced by the Beatles and Johnny Cash, Hamilton considers his sound a blend of genres.

"I call it roots rock. It ranges from country to blues to folk," Hamilton said. "(It's) just rock 'n' roll, really."

His song "Bury the Devil" has taken him through each stage of the competition, with its dark atmosphere and taunting lyrics.

" 'Bury the Devil' came during a moment when I was having a serious problem, and it came so easily ... all the lyrics just flowed out," Hamilton said. "It's basically about the devil as a metaphor, burying the mistakes of your past - forgiving the people around you, and really forgiving yourself and moving on."

Hamilton, first and foremost, considers himself a songwriter, having written almost 100 songs.

"Sometimes I'll go months without a song and sometimes I'll go a week and get four songs ... I don't know where they come from but as long as they keep coming, that'll be good," he said.

Hamilton describes his approach to songwriting as inconsistent and unconventional.

"I have no formula and I don't know when they're going to come and I don't know what they're going to sound like either," he said.

"So many times an idea will hit me and just random words will come - start flowing out into this melody, and I don't know what they mean," he said. "And then they'll sit for a year or two years and then all of a sudden something will happen in my life and I'm like, 'Oh, that's what that song's about - this moment right here.' "

In 2007, Hamilton made Music Connection magazine's list of "Hot 100 Unsigned Artists," and has been nominated three times for Los Angeles Music Awards, including twice for male singer-songwriter of the year and once for independent album of the year.

Hamilton began playing guitar in junior high school while recovering from a horrific accident. He had been riding his bike when he was struck by a truck, resulting in a fractured skull and a ruptured spleen. He also suffered two broken legs, a broken left arm and pinky, and fractured ribs.

"I was in a wheelchair for my eighth-grade graduation and they were actually afraid that I wouldn't walk again just because of how bad my knees were broken," Hamilton said.

But he fully recovered and, while doing so, found a musical part of himself he might not have otherwise discovered, he said.

Now 32, Hamilton works as a graphic designer and a part-time musician, but all that could change Monday, when the winner of "Music City Madness" is announced.

The winner of the competition will be flown to Nashville, Tenn., to record a CMT "Studio 330 Session," perform for representatives from the Valory Music label, and have a chance to meet country music star Reba McEntire.

Hamilton said he is still shocked over the experience, but he isn't letting it go to his head just yet.

"I just want to make a living off of my music," he said. "I think any artist is that way. That's the ultimate goal. I guess for some people fame and all that is a goal too, but that's definitely not for me."

Hamilton also acknowledges that to be a successful recording artist, he'll need to do more than just perform. In today's music world, it pays to be your own manager, booking agent and salesperson, he said.

"All I really want is to be able to put 100 percent of my time into my art," he said.

Jonathan D. Roberts is a freelance writer based in Lakewood.

Cast your vote

Torrance musician Danny Hamilton is one of two finalists in Country Music Television's online "Music City Madness" competition. Voting ends at 9 a.m.

Monday. Go to www.madness.cmt.com for information. A competition recap will air on CMT at 1 today, and 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.