Rising from the quiet landscape of Iowa and now rooted in the restless creative pulse of New York, Dan English is an artist defined by movement- between places, between sounds, and between emotional worlds. His music carries the grounded sincerity of the Midwest alongside the restless experimentation of a city that never stops evolving. Since the release of his debut album, Fruit Boy, in 2018, English has steadily carved out a sound that feels both intimate and expansive. 

Whether building from a fleeting musical fragment or capturing the creation in a single sitting, his songs balance vulnerability with quiet confidence. As he prepares for a hometown show at Gabe's, performing for family and longtime friends, English reflects on growth and the ever-evolving life of a song. 

Below, Dan opens up about his creative process, his influences, and what continues to drive him forward. 

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before? 

This is my favorite question to pass off to whoever I’m standing next to but since I’m alone… RHCP playing Legend of Zelda OST from memory.

What does your writing process typically look like? Do you follow the lyrics and build the instrumentation around them, or does the music come first? 

Generally a fragment of music will appear outta thin air and get developed over time like chipping away at a block of marble. Sometimes it all falls in my lap in a sitting,,, those songs are usually the best ones.

What has it been like navigating the music industry as an artist who started in Iowa and is now based in New York? 

I have been grateful for my quiet and grounded upbringing. I think it has allowed me to stay true to what I wanna do/make.

Your upcoming show at Gabe’s is essentially a hometown performance with family and longtime friends in the audience. What is it like stepping on stage knowing so many familiar faces will be there to support you? 

Nerve-racking! Just hope to make everybody proud.

What initially sparked your passion for creating music? Was there a defining moment that set you on this path? 

I think over the years, I’ve come to realize it was the result of growing up in a small town with little stimulation… a desire to be transported. 

Music is constant and consumes everyday life. What have you been listening to recently, and has it influenced the direction of the work you are currently creating? 

A lot of bluegrass. not yet but I hope it does.

Your cover art has a distinct visual identity. Where does the inspiration for that imagery come from, and how involved are you in shaping the visual presentation of your work? 

I’m not 100% sure but I knew I wanted it to communicate both tragedy and heroism. I also wanted it to feel unstuck in time. Philly painter Clare McCarthy and I worked directly together to create the visuals. I think she’s a genius.

You released Fruit Boy in 2018 and your most recent album, Sky Record, in 2025, along with several singles and LPs in between. How did COVID-19 impact both the release and creative structure of your music? 

Certainly put a pause things re: completion of Sky Record. I had just started playing the songs live in 2019 when everything stopped.

How do you approach live performance in relation to your recorded music? Do you see the stage as an extension of the album, or as a separate creative space? 

I really enjoy letting go of any preciosity of attachment to how the music is “supposed” to sound. Every player has an uniquely personal language when it comes to playing music. Letting these voices come out on the stage is one of the most exciting things about making music. It allows the songs to truly come “alive” and grow.

As you continue to grow as an artist, what do you hope audiences ultimately take away from your music? Hmm, my favorite music is the kind that inspires me. Makes me feel like I am living that moment and appreciative of it. If not that I just hope audiences to not waste anybody’s time.

Dan English will take the stage at Gabe’s on March 4 at 7:30 p.m., joined by local openers Birdlabs and Lex Leto. Tickets are on sale now. You can listen to this Spotify playlist to get in the mood for the Gabe's performance.