The Story

Nothin' Better Than This was written during a six-month period of self discovery, during which time Brother Dan travelled over 12,000 miles by motorcycle, and an additional 8,000 miles by various sailing vessels. As the journey progressed and he began to get to know himself (and like himself) again, his long-neglected creative juices began flowing, and his positive outlook on life was both refreshed and rejuvenated, both in real life, and in his music.

Recording of the project was done in Carson City, Nevada, where Brother Dan currently lives, and close to family and friends, some of whose talents you'll hear on the CD. Due to the difficulty of co-ordinating his travel schedule, his show schedule and the availability of the studio, the recording/mixing/mastering process took over nine months to complete.
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Q. Why is the CD called Nothin' Better Than This, especially since so much of it is about broken relationships?
BD: Change is the one constant we face in life. We don't understand it while we're experiencing it, and most of us don't like it. During the writing of the project, I was in a mid-life crisis, for lack of a better term. My 15-year marriage had disintegrated, I was dealing with life-changing medical issues, and I had walked away from a job I loved. Yes, there are lots of things better than all of that. The good part is coming out the other side. By the end of the writing, I had come full circle, my hope was rekindled, and I had rediscovered love. The song Nothin' Better Than This was actually written during the recording process, and I usually dedicate it to those in the audience that are in love.

Q. So then, what about the song Meant For You?
BD: (laughs) . . . I've actually written that song four different times, but the first three versions will never be heard by anyone, due to the anger that was in them.

Q. Well, it's still a pretty angry song . . .
BD: Yes, it's a rant all right. In a conversation with a friend, the fact that we give advice to others when it's us that really needs to follow that advice is where that song came from. Really, I'm saying that hypocrisy must die.

Q. So, tell me about Time Keeps Tickin' Away . . .
BD: Well, that's a statement of my own life philosophy. Life's too short, and too precious to waste time pursuing anything other than our passions. You won't find me playing it safe.

Q. My favorite song is He Said Nothin', what insight can you give me about that one?
BD: Well, that one was the only song not based on an actual event, but was inspired by the fact that many men in America don't speak openly or honestly with the women in their lives, out of fear or some other stupid thing in their own minds. On a larger level, I want to encourage people to tell ALL of the meaningful people in their lives how they feel about them.

Q. I really like the final song on the CD, Out the Door. It's not only appropriate as a closer, but I'm convinced there's a lot of your life in it . . .
BD: (Laughing) Well, I tend to make a disclaimer in most of my concerts, and I let people know that not everything I write is literal or factual . . . so you'll just have to figure out which is which . . .