EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Camplified Artist Dan Godlin

This year, Camplified is privileged to have an already highly accomplished artist joining their lineup.  Dan Godlin has achieved his college degree, and now nothing is going to stop him from making his name known in the music world!

We got to talk with Dan, who will be performing tonight on the east coast.  See what camp was like for the singer, and learn how he achieved his dreams in the music world!

Fanlala: Have you ever been to camp before? If so, what was it like?

Dan Godlin: Yes, absolutely, I was a camper for six years, and a counselor for another several at a camp called CYJ in New Hampshire.  Camp was like my home away from home.  I went every summer since fifth grade, and it was a totally new experience.  You’d connect with kids on a deeper level than with your friends at home, you’d live in close quarters, the jokes were different, it was just an amazing experience!

Being a counselor was great too, I’d be responsible for a group of kids.  I was a lifeguard, water safety instructor, a boat driver.  If I could still be back there, I would.  I was actually considering going back up there after Camplified to perform.

F: If you could only bring three things to camp, what would they be?

DG: [Whoo...] I was a huge fan of writing letters, so I would definitely bring my stationery.  I’d also have sour candy snacks.  They didn’t serve anything like that at camp, so I’d definitely need something like Sour Patch Kids.  I’d also bring my guitar.  I brought it to camp every summer, so when I had free time I’d go outside, and use it to impress girls.

F: Do you know how to make a campfire?

DG: They never actually taught us in camp, but I have done it with my dad and brother.  I’m sure if you gave me the right materials, I could do it.

F: What would you rather cook on the campfire, smores or hot dogs?

DG: Ooh, what time of day is it?  If it’s nighttime, s’mores.  if its a daytime thing, though, and we’re all having a cookout, you’ve got to have hot dogs for sure.

F: Who are you excited to see perform at Camplified and what inspired you to do the tour?

DG: Brandon & Savannah - I just met them today.  I haven’t heard them yet, but these guys are so mature for their age.  They’ve got it going on, and just by talking to them, I can already tell that they have a bright future

F: Do you think your “Emotional Intelligence” has given you an advantage to write music?

DG: I think when I was younger, I didn’t think of things in the same way as my friends.  I was more of a sensitive kid.  I had a tough guy persona on the outside, but I was more sensitive inside.  I would think emotionally, and it really helped my development in writing music.  I can connect the way that I’m feeling with the way people are feeling, and if I’m thinking logically, it’s not as easy.

F: Did you work on your music while attending NYU? If so, did you face any problems handling school and music at the same time?

DG: Oh yes, I was back and forth from New York to LA.  I went to the University of Rochester before I went out to Los Angeles where I took some classes at UCLA.  I then went back to Ithaca in New York to study music and film.  That’s when my manager discovered me, I applied to NYU and finished there.  I was in-studio all the time when I was not doing schoolwork.  I was recording, or working on finishing my album, or doing my own self-promotion.  It was difficult to balance.  I would play shows occasionally in the city, but now that I’ve graduated, it’s a lot easier.  I graduated this year in May at Yankee Stadium.

I definitely believe in the importance of an education, a degree is an amazing thing to have.  The music was there, but I knew how important it was to focus on my degree.  Now I have the degree and I’m able to focus on my music career at full force - it’s an awesome feeling!

F: If you could open for any artist, who would it be?

DG: That’s a good question, I would say Rob Thomas.  He’s my idol, and I loved his music from Matchbox 20.  He’s influenced me so much with his writing style and music style.  John Mayer and Matt Nathanson are two other artists I would love to open for.

F: What is the first song you wrote?

DG: When I was 12-years-old, I wrote a song called “I Can’t Wait” - the lyrics went “I can’t wait for the moment that I can be free to do what I want to do in my life, I can’t wait to say what I want to.  No one is stopping me now.”

It’s come full circle, so it’s funny you asked.  I have recordings of me on mp3 recorder, I might post it for my fans in the future.

F: Do you believe that your music can inspire others?

DG: I think that this first album ‘Loving on Empty’ took my four years.  I was working on it throughout college - it’s about youthful yearning for love and love lost.  It’s something people can relate to whether it’s back in their teenage years, or even if it’s something that’s going on right now.  I love it when there’s some story that I can relate to in music, and there’s always something someone can relate to in any piece of music.

People will always say “I’ve gone through that,” or “I’ve felt that before.”  The first single from the album was created after I walked out of a coffee shop.  I think a girl might have looked at me, and things like that happen to a bunch of people every day.  People think “Did he look?” “Did she look?”  It’s simple things like that.  The album has heartfelt, and deeper songs.  It also has upbeat, funny tracks.  The main thing is that I want people to connect.

Fans of Dan will be pleased to know that his single “Did She Look?” is number 3 on iHeartRadio’s top 20 In Demand.  He says it’s surreal, and the more plays it gets, the higher it gets on the list.  We definitely think you should check him out on the (totally FREE) app, and help boost him to number one!

Stick with Fanlala for more interviews with your fave Camplified artists!

Photo: Getty Images