Photo by Sam Gomez
Derek Day is a screaming, 23-year-old Los Angelino solo artist from Eaglerock, CA that infuses the power of Rock N’ Roll N’ Other Genres (R&B, Soul, Progressive Rock, Punk) who engages with and captures the audience theatrically. He’s on the lead, licky, riffy, stylistic Electric Guitar to accompany his lead, burning, gritty, soulful contralto Vocals. Finally releasing his first EP in Spring 2017, he’s been performing over 10 years with influences ranging from Led Zeppelin through Coltrane, stopping for a minute at Tom Waits, to Kendrick Lamar meets GN’R while Stevie Ray Vaughan has breakfast with Mercury n’ MJ. It’s always a BLAST!
The child of honorable working-class parents, Derek Day was born & raised in and around Downtown Los Angeles. “He had started vocalizing when he was a baby”, his mother recalling, “singing along to ‘We Will Rock You’ during a Buffalo Wild Wings commercial when he was only 4 months.” He picked up guitar playing around 6 years old- writing his first melody on a plastic guitar with 4 strings. Being raised on classic and hard rock styles since the day he was born, eventually, Day started performing out on the Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade as well as Venice Beach at age 13. He quickly learned to love styles of Motown, Jazz, Funk as well as Progressive, Alternative and Experimental music. Street Performing taught Day how to deal with audiences- whilst the cover tunes he was performing taught him how to emote, scream, and feel what really meant the world to him. Now, he has something to say of his own, something new to show you- A reason to look up.
In 2014, Day & brother Waldemar formed the Radio Rock band HOTSTOP and were signed to Blue Elan Records, but after tours and record sales did not pan out, Day left to pursue his solo career.
January 2016 marked a turning point for Derek Day: music manager Ali Shayestah heard him backing actress and fledgling singer Rachel Fox. Ali booked Derek at the infamous ULTIMATE JAM NIGHT, produced by Quiet Riot bassist Chuck Wright who immediately noticed Derek’s star quality. Derek is now a weekly, regularly featured artist at the historic Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, sharing the stage with: bassist Paul ILL (Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Pink); bassist Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai, Slash); drummer Brendan Buckley (Shakira); dance music chart topper Debby Holiday; guitarist Scotti Hill (Skid Row); frontman Eric Dover (Jellyfish & Slash’s Snake Pit); drummer Mike Dupke(WASP); keyboardist Michael Klooster (Smashmouth); Johnny Martin (Tracii Guns), Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot) among other notables.
For Derek Day, “3” seems to be his lucky number: He had 3 brothers who gave him a passion for literature and music; at age 13 he watched a video of the G3 CONCERT— Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen — and fell in love with the sound of electric guitar; after his first 3 years as a professional musician in LA, Steve Vai saw a video of Derek on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade and saw a spark of magic that inspired him to say, “This guy has a nice fire in him…he has a powerful charisma…”. Via then invited the wild, young Pop/Rock Derek Day to open for him in concert on 3 concert dates. So, on Saturday, December 10, 2016, Derek Day got to do what others only dream of: open for his guitar idol, Steve Vai.
It is easy to see why Derek is excited to play with his idol, Steve Vai: Vai’s work has been recognized with a long list of awards, including an even dozen from Guitar Player. The TEC Foundation honored Vai with the prestigious Les Paul Award, created in 1991 to salute those who have set the highest standard of excellence in the creative application of technology (past winners include Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Herbie Hancock and Steely Dan). In bestowing it on Vai, TEC noted, “Steve Vai’s sheer breathtaking facility on the guitar is acclaimed in the rock world and beyond… Vai has dedicated his talents to creatively advance the language of music. While many artists fit easily into a single category, Steve Vai remains unclassifiable. He is a musical alchemist of the highest order.”
We had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Derek Day. Check out the interview below.
Thank you for granting the interview, Derek! Since you were 4-months old music has been a part of your life. What inspired you to choose music as a career?
I was really into cooking when I was about 7. But, music. Nothing ever felt so right and singular before, ever. Some of the first things I’ve ever learned were soloing-type things; I was most interested in the free, soaring expression you could go for in music. I started taking it very seriously at 12 years old when the PS2 died: RIP. But a loud blessing triggering the absolute halt of everything, not music. It started with Rock N Roll in all forms, and I do mean all of its sub-genres. Constantly practicing and doing talent shows, I was self-taught for the most part with help from my older brothers who played very well. I started writing almost as soon as I picked up a guitar, yet it was when I tapped into the more unfamiliar geniuses like jazz, funk, oldies, and hip-hop that things got cooler, closer to who I am. Creating is the only reason to live music, or live, for that matter and having two immigrant parents amazing enough to teach me culture, intelligence and individualism all while on board with my crazy, melodic endeavor also helps. I love them both during an afterlife.
You love to infuse different genres in your music. Do you find that you prefer to use one genre more than others? If yes, which one and why?
The sound is meant to emulate my message- to cause a big movement with absolutely everything you got in you. Movements in style, different styles. Something from a progressive Rock n Roll to a future folk settling at a heavy R&B. A movement of hope and truth. As we speak, there’s actually a small movement of the return of real, worked on, passionate music becoming stronger with real artists.
For me, screaming on both lead instruments is required to carry out the goal successfully- with a dash of something theatrical. These are stories that contain oddball characters with oddball missions to find the even and the square.
In 2014, you were part of a band called HOTSTOP, but you left to pursue a solo career. What did you learn from touring?
My best experiences are usually the toughest realizations and feats of my life. Busking on the street for over 10 years showed me what is most captivating on a cold night. My first tour was with a side project and was brutal with a wake-up call about the third week in, freezing in a January Kansas, assembling my solo career. Also being proactive in school music programs, I was lucky enough to play big stages-like the Greek Theater and Club Nokia. That gave me a taste of what is yet to come with work.
Touring nationally three times was nothing but incredible, unbuyable growing experiences with two musicians and manager in a minivan- sometimes in much smaller cars for extended periods of time. Performing in Europe Fall 2016 was blissful work – Ireland especially. And playing a number of shows as well as experiencing Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in February 2018 couldn’t have been more spectacular for what will present itself in the future.
Tell us about how Ali Shayesteh discovered your amazing vocal talent and booked you at the infamous Ultimate Night Jam. Tell us more.
Meeting my manager, Ali Shayesteh, happened like all Los Angeles connections; a contact through a contact through a contact. He managed a band I was in which had potential but had some weak elements. I quit the band, along with all other side projects, started my thing and he jumped on board. I liked his management style, fearless and tough. He had connections with some of the best musicians in Hollywood to put me on a fun, free, weekly show known as the Ultimate Jam Night at the Whisky A Go Go. There I met multi-instrumentalists, famous session players, and big names for bands like Quiet Riot, LA Guns, Survivor, Shakira, Steve Vai, Rod Stewart and the list goes on and on.
This event had just started months before and was really bringing Hollywood and the Strip BACK from the dead- the place to be on a weeknight. After befriending some of these awesome players, I was a regular which created a buzz rather quickly in the Hollywood area from scratch, opening up doors into the Middle and Eastern States.
What’s next in your career?
Having the privilege to tour with Steve Vai, Ted Nugent, Living Colour, and open for Steel Panther a couple times put me in a position to understand my markets across this country. Expect a national tour this summer of 2018! Still putting together pieces but happening nicely. Another goal is a college tour on the west coast once the next album is finished or possibly even sooner. And of course, I play at home whenever I am home here in Los Angeles – keeping a traditional appearance at the famous Ultimate Jam Night and the up and coming Sunset Jam as well as full length shows all around the LA County. Count on it: I’ll always be live somewhere.
What can fans expect from your next album?
EPs, baby, EPs. At least just for the time being. I find that a new chapter begins with every work I record and release, down to each individual tune. So things gotta be new and released quicker.
I’m releasing two singles in April 2018 recorded with Alan Toka, Nate Contreras, Stephen Lyons whose souls killed it immensely in these recordings with Walter Ino engineering AND performing on it as well. All at Secret Asian Man Studios in Echo Park right before NAMM time.
The two songs to be released are entitled “Another Day” and “Social Kitten”. None of which are love songs but that’s ok.
On other sides of things, I’m working with Greg Hampton on an EP and wrote a number of tunes with Living Colour’s Vernon Reid that are in preproduction mode. All coming out this year ~
What do you like to do when you’re not performing?
I like to attend shows of local bands in my city. I enjoy chicken pot pie. I try to write daily, something – anything, just for the day. I enjoy making stupid comical videos, a lot of which is posted on Instagram. Follow your boy! @derekdaymusic
Other than that, I currently have an organ that I play constantly, shed on my guitar, voice, and rhythm and spend time with mi familia.
Connect with Derek:
Web: derekdaymusic.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/derekmaxday/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derekdaymusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derek2day/
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