Dan Rico

ABOUT

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Dan Rico is a Brooklyn based singer and producer. After his debut album “Endless Love” in 2016, he released the follow-up “Dreamy” in 2018  and “Basement Pop” in 2019, along with a series of EP’s and singles. A prolific songwriter, Rico jumps seamlessly between genres incorporating collage-like elements of bedroom pop, lo-fi dance music, rock, and electronica. Major influences include Prince, the classic rock pantheon (Rolling Stones, Beatles, Bob Dylan), Nicolás Jaar and Frank Ocean. Growing up playing in and recording punk bands, all the while absorbing soul, and jazz acts in his home town of Chicago, Dan decided to strike out on his own in 2015, touring across the United States and Europe and eventually settling down in Brooklyn.

Rico operates from a well-stocked arsenal of aural platitudes ranging from 50’s pop to contemporary R&B. With a little bit of doo-wop vocal arrangement, snarly rock guitars, danceable rhythm, electronic soundscapes, and catchy melodies, the music of Dan Rico just might be a shining outpost in the shadowy future of rock music.

PRESS

There’s no traditional record industry anymore, circa 1995 or earlier, acting as gatekeepers for what the public can or cannot hear. It’s this fairer and more expansive playing field allowing artists like Dan Rico the ability have their voices distinguishable from the din of clamoring would be pop stars and performing artists vying for our collective attention. The emotion in Rico’s voice gripped me from the first, but they are particularly effective thanks to the confluence of his voice, lightly treated with post-production effects, and the melodic backing vocals striking a near ethereal note in contrast. The melodic strengths of “Dre@m Vaca$ion” are impossible to ignore.
Dan Rico is a Brooklyn, NY based songwriter, producer, singer, and guitarist. He writes gritty, doo-wop tinged love songs about the end of the world. Since 2015 he has released two full length albums “Endless Love,” and “DREAMY,” along with several singles and EP’s. In 2018 he decided to quit traditional rock music in search of something new and moved out to New York from his hometown of Chicago. Boldly blending influences from a myriad of music crusaders- Sly and the Family Stone to Sonic Youth- Rico’s songs manage to be both fresh and gritty; elegant and jarring. If the Backstreet Boys took ecstasy and spent a month in a basement writing poetry and playing dice, they might land somewhere close to Dan Rico’s new record, “BA$EMENT P0P”.

—Skope, Link

Thoroughly modern yet grounded in essential songwriting formula extant in popular music since time immemorial, Brooklyn based singer, writer, and multi-instrumentalist Dan Rico scores big with the release of his single “Dre@m Vaca$ion”. The single is drawn from his forthcoming release via label TMB Limited entitled Basement Pop, due to drop in late March, and positions Rico as a writer and recording artist well positioned for translating his indie appeal over to a wider audience capable of appreciating a dollop of audaciousness in a solo artist or band. “Dre@m Vaca$ion” is a truly DIY release with Rico taking on every instrumental role, but if you associate the term DIY with substandard quality, you couldn’t be more mistaken.

--Too Much Love, Link

What feels beautiful at times, with bursts of oranges and yellows, he mellows out with guitar riffs of blues and hues of purples. His vocals – again that confident clean-cut image – get sexy dress treatment with the guitar parts. It adds a dash of blues and a smidge of mystery.

-Indie Pulse Music, Link

Though Rico names Chet Baker, T. Rex, Elvis, David Bowie and even Duke Ellington as influences on his Facebook page, it’s clear to me as a listener he’s made his own mark and utilizing all the resources in front of him to make something very modern. And, yes, his music has soul.

-Vents Magazine, Link

As a producer-singer-songwriter, Dan Rico finds himself face to face with the music throughout the entirety of his creative process. An attention to detail he has continued to perfect since joining his first band at the age of thirteen. The world of music is a place Dan Rico knows well. And since stepping out on his solo journey in 2015, Dan’s been getting acquainted with the land of Chicago music from a new perspective. Diving into the next leg of his solo career with the brand new single “No Means No”, Dan Rico’s musical aspirations are becoming a reality. If the new track was a meal, it’s safe to say that “No Means No” would be the mouth watering digest comprised of the essential pop music food groups one needs to survive. It’s smooth, catchy, and demands that you sing, and dance as Rico’s guitar and vocals guide you with their melodies. Dan’s careful curation makes sure every sound and instrument has a place to live as they gracefully bounce alongside one another. That same focus is alive in the visual as well, a passionate sense of creation Dan Rico hopes to provide going forward.

-These Days, Link

“Dreamy” is a highly enjoyable summer record built on a classic rock n roll structure, which Dan builds on with engaging elements of electronic indie pop, R&B, and even feel-good oldies — incorporating beloved hooks from influences like The Beatles, the classic “Not Fade Away” and Brenton Wood’s “Oogum Boogum Song.” What’s not to like?

-House Show Magazine, Link

"Having recently spent some time in New Orleans and Atlanta, Rico’s new sound builds on his garage- and punk-rock past with hints of doo-wop, soul, funk, and roots rock. His songs will just as easily take you for a spin on the dance floor as they will cradle an arm around you on the couch.

-Post Trash, Link

"A grainy, glammy mix of pop and rock’s past, present, and future. " 

 -Impose Magazine, Link

-"Endless Love est un bel album qui séduira les derniers romantiques luttant pour leur survie en ce bas monde"

-Planet Gong Link

"Rico's solo outing may catch you by surprise, as these simple and catchy pop hits, executed with a dash of pomp and sympathy, crash right into a soul-laden groove of sophistication, yet still retain a semblance of his impossible-to-hide lo-fi posterior."

 -Victim of Time, Link

"Chicago Singer Songwriter Dan Rico has released his new 7″ called ‘Flesh & Bone’. Its three tracks back in time to all things glam rock, vintage pop and beautiful. It’s a timeless collection that rewinds all the hustle and bustle and brings you swagger and slickness suave at its best. ‘"

-Indie Buddy, Link

"Imagine Mick Jagger in his twenties strutting around on stage while singing “Brown Sugar”, and that’s what you get with Dan Rico."

-The Revue, Link

"Endless Love est un disque touchant, émouvant et profondément attachant." 

-Raw Power Magazine, Link

"His music can easily be described as soulful rock 'n' roll and it'll probably get you hooked in the first listen."

-Buried Muse, Link

"C'est à la fois sexy, sensuel, irréel et un brin kitsch. 

-Sun Burns Out, Link

"The record channels an early DIY punk esthetic through that 1970s mash-up of 1950s nostalgia, breathy emotive R&B male vocals (that Prince would use to great effect in the 1980s), and crunchy rock and roll guitars. Having said that, what marks the record is the coherency of its sound, even as it showcases multiple styles in songwriting and production." 

-Pop Rock Record, Link

"Mr. Rico continues his streak of releasing top notch rock n roll. His songs have a power pop twist, a dusting of glam rock, and all done with that feeling of intimacy of a singer/songwriter performance. Dan Rico is one of the brightest gems I’ve discovered this year and listening to this EP will make you think the same."-

-Audio Ammunition, Link

"What you have here is a singer/songwriter giving you no pretense, no gimmick rock as it has been done since the beginning, straight from the heart."

-Floorshime Zipper Boots Blog, " target="_blank">Link

"If you didn't know any better, you'd think this was released in the 70's... Instant Classic."

-Kick Ass Indie Jams, Link

"Dan Rico’s debut record is a bit of a grower, but it’s an album that demands your repeated attention. Endless Love is garage rock at its purest." 

-Unsung Sundays, Link

"The greatest joys in life come at you unexpectedly, and that is the case with the new single from Dan Rico... His brash garage-pop is immensely enjoyable." 

-Music Defined, Link

"What you should know is that Dan Rico is an outstanding singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist musician who expresses all his creativity through these twelve coherent and catchy pieces."

-Le Oreilles Curieuse blog, Link

"Brilliantly clever songwriting and production value are on showcase here and coherently run throughout the length of the album. "

-Sodwee Music, Link

"With a vintage flare and a timeless vocal, Rico’s garage-pop tune is 2 quick minutes of feel good music, that end way too soon."

-Cereal + Sounds, Link

"...Flesh & Bone is bloody good."

-The Devil Has the Best Tuna, Link

"After a nudge from the romantic beach-scene video for lead single "Soft Feeling," this wolf is falling hard for Rico's soul-punk vibe!" 

-Gossip Wolf, Chicago Reader, Link

"Avec sa voix attachante et son côté détaché mais serré Dan Rico emporte le morceau avec un album emballant de bout en bout, et très très riche qui s’écoute donc avec intérêt encore et encore!"

-Voix Garage De Noble, Link

" It's quite impressive because it runs all through the Rock n' Roll timeline. I can hear British Invasion, Soul, Glam, Indie Rock, Power Pop and a whole lot more. There’s even some keyboard action and some LA’s Zeros influence on a few of the tunes. The songs go full throttle guitar rock n' roll down to tender ballads. But the marvelous part about the whole thing is that it all still sounds cohesive and gelled."

-Audio Ammunition, Link

"L’habileté réside en cela que les influences de Dan Rico, aussi diverses soient-elles, sont maîtrisées sur le bout des doigts et parfaitement digérées. Ses compositions font sans cesse le pont entre garage rock et glam, entre rock psychédélique et britpop, entre punk et pop.”

-Songazine, French Music, Link

"But if the charm of its diversity of styles doesn't get you the songs will. This record is chalk full of so many bangers you won't be able to resist dropping the needle on this baby for a hot minute." 

-Why Pick on Me Music, Link

Interviews and Mixtapes

Interview on Medium.com KO63 Music, , Link Feature on ANON Mixtape Mondays, LinkInterview with Sweet Sweet Music Blog, LinkDan Rico on Radio One Chicago Link Dan Rico curates a Mixtape for Mailtape Music Blog, LinkDan Rico featured in February 2017 Mixtape by Curbside Books and RecordsLinkInterview and Dan Rico curates a mixtape for Spark And Fizz, Boston/Portland- based Music Blog. LinkInterview with French Webzine Amalgame. Link

   Misc

• Fuzzy Logic Feature, Link

• Pretty In Noise, Link

• Music Existence, Link

• Indie Music Reviews, Link

• Chicago: 5 Spots to Check out with Musician Dan Rico, Indie Guides September 2017 Link

• Write Up for "Flesh and Bone" in JP's Music Blog Link

• Interview regarding "Flesh and Bone" in The Total Scene Blog Link

• Listen to "Flesh and Bone" by Dan Rico, The Minimal Beat, Link

• "Casual Feeling" Video Premier from The Drone, Link

• "Soft Feeling" Video Premier From VAM Magazine, Link

• Episode of Voix De Garage, Grenoble Campus Radio Program, ft. an interview with Raphael from Shit in Can Records, a mix of Dan Rico, Ego, and Mama songs, and more! Link

• Dan Rico included on Exodisc Mixtape, Link

• Feature in Power Pop Academy (Japan), Link

• Feature on "Endless Love" Single with 50thirdandthird.com, Link

• Dan Rico featured on We Want to Wigoler 2016 Year End Compilation, Link