OH MY GOD- Where did you get that!?  I pretty much shouted unintentionally at a woman working with Dane Rumble about her necklaces.  I’d blame the heat for half losing my mind but it’s no secret I’m a serious silver fiend (hi my name is Lauren, and I have a problem.)  She looked at me and said it came from Dane Rumble’s jewelry line (thank me later) and I was ready to head home and cyberstalk the artist in order to find the intricate little charms that had caught my eye.

We may had been meeting for the first time that day- but I was pretty familiar with Dane’s latest single and video “Always Be Here,” as it’s been on my heavy rotation list for the better part of the week.  So after verbally assaulting a girl I was ready to head into hiding undercover in a cabana to find out more about Dane’s music, his new tattoo from L.A., and his first trip to Sin City!

 

LN:  So it’s come to my attention recently, like 5 seconds ago, that you have a jewelry line!  Details, please!

DR:  Well, ok!  I’ve got a jewelry line back home called Culet- I’m actually not wearing anything right now I was in a bit of a rush this morning!  But we do sterling silver guys and girls fashion pieces.  We also do a diamond line as well so we do engagement rings and stuff.

LN:  Ok, looks like I have my first stop when I get to New Zealand all figured out!

 

LN:  Ok a not so swift segue- but is that a new tattoo you’re sporting on your right arm?  Get it in L.A.?

DR:  It is!  She’s pretty tender!  There’s a kiwi guy who does a show called L.A. Ink over here- I’ve actually never seen the show!  But there’s a kiwi guy, Dan, on it and so the show contacted us and said does Dane want to come and get a tattoo done by a kiwi guy?  So I was like yeah ok- sweet!

LN:  Any special meaning behind the design you chose?

DR:  Yeah well it’s a New Zealand hawk sitting on a Pohutukawa tree- which is a tree that blossoms over summer time.- so it’s just basically a reminder of home.

 

LN:  Ok, so back to music- who would you say are your main musical influences?

DR:  Hmm- I’d have to say I’m a huge fan of Led Zep, Jimi Hendrix..

LN:  Can’t go wrong with the classics

DR:  Yeah you really can’t go wrong!  The only music me and my brother had to listen to when we were younger was my dad’s tapes- he was like a want to be guitarist so we’d jam along listening to these 70’s rock songs!  It doesn’t necessarily reflect in my music- but if you jump on my ipod it’s definitely in there!

 

LN:  Well you’re right it doesn’t always reflect directly in your music- you have a background in hip hop, touring with Missy Elliot and the Black-Eyed Peas I believe!  How has that influenced you in regards to your solo project?

DR:  Well the band I was in Fast Crew- we were together for 10 years.  We had some amazing opportunities touring with big American artists- anytime they came to New Zealand we’d kind of jump on the tour bandwagon!  Things kind of came to an end, we wrote to albums, released two albums and I kind of wanted a change of scenery.  To be honest I kind of fell out of love with writing hip hop music- I just wasn’t passionate about it anymore!

LN:  You’ve gone a little more pop-esque now!

DR:  I was always the pop element in Fast Crew!  I was the one that was always sort of writing the pop hooks and stuff- so it’s always been a part of what I do!  So I just sort of sat down one day and picked up the acoustic and began a different approach to writing music!

 

LN:  Your latest music vid for “Always Be Here” has some pretty tough subject matter I think a lot of artists deal with when being on the road and in relationships at the same time- was it a direct personal experience for you or general subject matter?

DR:  It was actually.  It was for my ex-girlfriend, my girlfriend at the time.  When you’re in a relationship it’s always hard- you know, I was never home, I was always away and that puts a lot of pressure on the relationship.  I guess I kind of wrote that song with the underlying intention to let her know that it’s still all good, it’s something I have to do and I’m out here doing my job- I’m not hanging out with groupies and I’m coming home to you.

 

LN:  Any crazy tour/show stories you want to let us in on?

DR:  (Laughs) Crazy tour stories…you know people back at home thing I’m this crazy rock and roll guy and I’m out every night but really I’m a business man- I do this, I’ve got the jewelry line Culet, and I’ve got about 3 other companies we own back at home as well!

LN:  So you have a lot of free time is what you’re saying- you should really get a hobby!

DR:  Yeah, right!  This is why I love touring because I’m so far away from some of the work that business partners take the reigns!

LN:  So this is a vacation for you!

DR:  This IS a holiday!  Look we’ve got a pool, the weather’s nice out!

 

LN:  So you’re stranded on a deserted island and can only bring 3 CD’s- pick your poison.

DR:  Oooh….Led Zep “Houses of the Holy,” Dre “Chronic 2001,” and I’d probably take a classical record just for balance!

 

LN:  So what’s up next for you in twenty-eleven hitting any fests in the U.K. or Europe?

DR:  I have a few things coming up- I did a collaboration with J. Williams so I’ll be in Germany with him doing all like the breakfast talk shows and such.

LN:  Lot’s of travelling!  I feel like you should be on an episode of Top Gear at this point- like follow your misadventures from point A to B!

DR:  Yeah you know we just drove to Vegas a few days ago!

LN:  How’d that work out for you?

DR:  You know…it was amazing but I threw up on the car trip there- and then we went to one of the shows and I threw up after- so I was pretty much sick for the entire time there!

LN:  Well, I think most people throw up at some point during their Vegas experiences, so maybe we can consider this you initiation to the club!

DR:  Yeah- it really was a crazy place!

 

LN:  So anymore recording this year?  Lots of shows?

DR:  I think I’ll be travelling for the better part of this year- working on some songs and getting them ready for a new album!

LN:  Can’t wait!

 

LN:  Closing remarks to friends and fans?

DR:  Just thanks so much for all of your support and stay tuned because I’ll have new songs out before the end of this year!

Dane didn’t hesitate to rejoin the sun’s unrelenting ray’s while I was damn near ready to reapply SPF 85, aka my favorite accessory.  The evolution of Dane’s hip hop to just hop-ish music was a smooth transition, and based on the video he’s just released (which you can watch just above!) I’ll be anxiously waiting the release of his new tunes before this year is over!  No pressure, Dane.

To keep up with the latest and greatest going on with Dane’s music head HERE- and those lucky Manhattenites and London residents be sure to catch Danes next show- he’s coming to your towns!