On this week’s Open Mic Spotlight, Chattanooga musician Danny Alvarez stops by to talk with Heather about growing up listening to religious music in a conservative household, his musical epiphany on a Navajo reservation and his love of ‘90s hip-hop and R&B production. Armed with his keyboard, Alvarez doles out liquid grooves and mercurial rhythms that bounce around within a host of different genres. From Sam Smith to Stevie Wonder to Louis Armstrong, his choice of cover songs reveals the depths of his various influences. With a voice that could reach up into the rafters of the tallest cathedral, he paints a mesmerizing picture of accumulated creativity, resulting in a wellspring of sounds which highlights the inherent melodic commonality of his collected inspirations.
Born in New Jersey, Alvarez moved to Chattanooga with his family when he was in the 6th grade. Out of high school, he attended nursing school before graduating and becoming a fulltime nurse. But that hasn’t stopped him from following his instincts toward a path in music. After a time doing missionary work in the African nation of Chad, he eventually found himself helping out on a Navajo reservation, and it was here that he came to the realization that he could be doing something that could reach far more people than his missionary labors allowed him. He discusses his unique perspective of growing up in a conservative family where he was only allowed to listen to religious music (or Linkin Park when he could sneak it past his parents). And he attributes his current ambitions and understanding to the experiences that helped mold his younger years.
Thank you to Billy Campbell for mixing this episode. Thank you to Joshua Pickard for the epiosde summary.
Episode 80: Spinster
Episode 79: Stellar's Jay
Episode 78: Rachel McIntyre Smith
Episode 77: Summer Dregs
Episode 76: Chelsea Ford and the Trouble
Episode 75: Cloud Caverns
Episode 74: Ariel Omarzu
Episode 73: Oh Jeremiah
Episode 72: Superbody
Episode 71: Bryce Cronan of The Afternooners
Episode 70: The Mailboxes
Episode 69: Thirstain Daniels
Episode 68: Twisted Pine
Episode 67: DJ and Marv
Episode 66: Josh Driver
Episode 65: Alex Volz
Episode 64: Cannon Hunt
Episode 62: Sophie Lockhart
Episode 61: Planes on Paper with Josiah Johnson
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Beer Today Beer Tomorrow
A Prairie Home Companion: News from Lake Wobegon
radiofreeredoubt
Pod Pod Pod — A Podcast Playlist
Possibly Unsafe