A Conversation With Danny of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Chicago – Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. have been cutting up dance floors and exciting fans with their funky performances since 2009. The Detroit duo has increasingly become known for infectious pop songs and “spellbinding” live shows, and over the past five years, the indie band has released several EPs, a mixtape, and two full-lengths: It’s A Corporate World and The Speed of Things (on Warner Bros. Records).

Best New Bands recently spoke with Daniel Zott. Of course we talked of writing music and working on album number three, but Danny also filled us in on James Dean’s cool factor, the power of serenading the ladies, and his dream of working with Justin Timberlake.

I want to take it back to your debut EP, Horsepower. I love the song “Simple Girl.” Who was the girl that inspired that song?

Well, Josh wrote that. He called me up. It started this band; just a phone call. He cold-called me, “Hey, let’s make a song!” I was really hesitant. I only worked with people I could trust, my close friends, you know that’s how I worked before… so he called me, and I said, “Okay, let’s do this.” He comes over, and he had this song “Simple Girl” that his band didn’t like… we recorded it that day… It’s actually a girl that he knows… but you know I never asked Josh [who it is]… I probably should! (laughs)

On your sophomore album The Speed of Things, the track “Hiding” really sticks out as one the strongest tracks. What were you hiding from?

That song’s interesting. I think a lot of people view that song differently. I think Josh and I were, but more so specifically Josh because he really spearheaded that lyric, it’s just about trying to be honest with yourself. Not like be yourself, but just be honest with yourself with how shitty you are or if you’re frightened or… ugh, you know I think a lot of it can also be celebratory where you’re declaring, “I’m done with being a horrible person. I’m not doing that anymore. I’m uncovering myself.”

You guys recently released the single “James Dean.” It’s a little more R&B. Should we expect more of that from your third album?

Yeah, there’s definitely more of an R&B feel, more of a hip hop feel, and to be honest, Josh and I come from loving more of that type of stuff. My favorite artists are Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, The Jackson 5. I’m way more into that stuff than I am into Nirvana or Wilco. I mean I respect those bands, but I love more of the performance type of vocal, which you can just (laughs)… umm, I used to do this thing in sixth grade, when people found out I could sing, I used to go up to girls and just sing to them. (laughs) There’s so much power in being able to serenade someone with just your voice. You don’t have that in rock ‘n’ roll.

Okay, I have to ask if you have a favorite James Dean movie?

Oh, I just don’t have favorites. I’m not that type of person. I can never think of anything that’s my favorite… to me, he was a great actor, but I think it was more about the way he looked. In all the films, he’d be smoking a lot, and there are so many things that he copywrited and put into existence. That is “Old Hollywood,” really. But more so than any other person, he…

He was the epitome cool.

Yeah, he was the epitome of cool. Hipsters and people wearing leather jackets, Fifties style jeans, rolling them up, riding motorcycles, the greasy slicked hair, all that stuff, he did that. I immediately think of James Dean. He created that. In a way, he owns all that… that’s the idea of the song. He’s so cool… He was so good looking. Women just wanted to see him. Men just wanted to be him.

You guys are finishing up this tour and then heading back into the studio. Aside from “James Dean,” have you guys been writing a lot on the road? How far along are you in the album?

We started recording this summer, so we got about seventy percent of the album done before we left for tour. Then we took a week off during the middle of the tour and got to eighty, eighty-five percent… we’re nearing the end of it, and we’re going to try to not over think it. Kind of like our mixtape, Produce. We recorded it very fast… there’s something about the spirit of music when it’s made in the moment and it’s not thought about too much or over analyzed, which I think is the typical American thinkscape, like what we were talking about in Patterns. You know, you take steps and your life will be like this or more like that. It’s a very American thing to do that. I think we’re trying to get away from holding on to everything and make the moment more special.

On “War Zone” you had a little production help from Paul Simon. If you could collaborate with any artist in the future, who would it be?

I know have trouble with favorites, but I should be able to answer this one (laughs)… I can easily say Leonard Cohen because I really respect what he does… I think I would try to write with Justin Timberlake. I think that’d be really interesting. He has an incredible voice. I know people write for him, but if I could be that writer, I think it’d be really interesting to see what happens.

You should hit him up!

(laughs) I’m always available JT!

It’s A Corporate World and The Speed of Things are always available on iTunes. Keep an eye out for news of the band’s third album by following Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. on facebook and twitter.

Photo By Catie Laffoon

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Sarah Hess

At the age of six, Sarah Hess discovered True Blue by Madonna. This resulted in her spending hours in front of the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush microphone, belting out "La Isla Bonita" off key. Her love for music only intensified over the years thanks to her parents; her mother exposed Sarah to The Jackson Five and had her hustling to the Bee Gees, while her father would play her albums like 'Pet Sounds' and 'Some Girls' from start to finish, during which he'd lecture on and on about the history of rock & roll. Sarah would eventually stumble upon rap and hip-hop, then punk and alternative, and fall madly in love with Jeff Buckley and film photography.

After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.

You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.