Danielson is an American rock band from Clarksboro,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, that plays

indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with a DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and s ...

gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music vary according to culture and social context. Gospel music is compo ...

. The group consists of frontman Daniel Smith and a number of various artists with whom he collaborates. Smith has also released solo work as Brother Danielson. When joined by his family the band is known as Danielson Famile or Danielson Family, whose members have included Smith; his "siblings Andrew, David, Megan, and Rachel; wife Elin; friends Christiaan & Melissa Palladino; nddaughters Lilly and Ida".

Sufjan Stevens Sufjan Stevens ( ; born July 1, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released ten solo studio albums and multiple collaborative albums with other artists. Stevens has received Grammy and Academy Award nomina ...

has also recorded and performed with the group. The band is known for Smith's squeaky,

falsetto Falsetto ( , ; Italian language, Italian diminutive of , "false") is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ...

vocals, innovative musical arrangements, and matching uniforms "that act, according to Daniel, as 'visual reminders of the spiritual and emotional healing taking place' within audience members." During some performances Smith has "worn a nine-foot tall, hand-made nine-fruit tree to 'bear the good fruit,'" in reference to the

fruit of the Holy Spirit The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (sometimes referred to as the Fruits of the Holy Spirit) is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit, according to chapter 5 of the Epistle to the Ga ...

History

In 1993, while attending

Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...

as a senior, Daniel Smith experienced a spiritual reawakening:

"This was the year I stopped running away from home, picked up my acoustic guitar again and changed from being Dan back to Daniel. I woke up to the fact that I have an amazing family, an amazing childhood and I began to relate everything I was thinking and doing with this in mind... I began reading the Bible and praying again and songs and art started flowing. I would meet with my dad and talk philosophy and theology and I became a child again."

Smith has cited the major influence his musician father had on him growing up and the importance of lyrical content. Smith began recording songs that would later compose the album ''A Prayer for Every Hour'': "some from my solo 4-track, some with my friends Jason Faunce and Missy Forsyth backing and some with my brothers and sisters backing. Danielson became the name of the songs that I write. I had become "Daniel" and realized that I am a son." He submitted the album as his final thesis (and received an 'A' grade) and performed, joined by his siblings, at the senior art show. Smith then sent the album out to several indie labels but only received a response from Tooth & Nail in California, who picked up the album and released it in 1994. Daniel Smith, his siblings, and friend Chris Palladino began to perform in New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia as the "Danielson Famile." The group released '' Tri-Danielson!!! (Alpha)'' and '' Tri-Danielson!!! (Omega)'' in 1998 and 1999 respectively, earning them further college radio play and broadening their indie audience. Both LP's were recorded and produced by Kramer. The band became known for their onstage costumes (initially nurse uniforms with large red hearts sewn on) as well as their homemade T-shirts and other merchandise. While the lyrical content was unabashedly

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

, Danielson Famile nevertheless received strong press and support from

secular Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin , or or ), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. The origins of secularity can be traced to the Bible itself. The concept was fleshed out through Christian hi ...

audiences due to their musical inventiveness. Danielson signed to

Secretly Canadian Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana, part of the Secretly Group. The Secretly Group includes record labels Dead Oceans and Jagjaguwar as well as a music publisher known as Secretly Publis ...

Records in 2001 and released '' Fetch the Compass Kids'', which was recorded by

Steve Albini Steven Frank Albini (; July 22, 1962 – May 7, 2024) was an American musician and audio engineer. He founded and fronted the influential post-hardcore and noise rock bands Big Black (1981–1987), Rapeman (1987–1989) and Shellac (band), ...

. Smith then released a solo record in 2004 ('' Brother Is to Son'') as Brother Danielson. It was followed in May 2006 by the ambitious ''

Ships A ship is a large vessel that travels the world's oceans and other navigable waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished from boats, ...

'', which featured contributions from a total of 20 musicians, including

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, Why?,

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, and Half-handed Cloud. The band was chosen by

Matt Groening Matthew Abram Groening ( ; born February 15, 1954) is an American cartoonist, writer, producer, and animator. He is best known as the creator of the television series ''The Simpsons'' (1989–present), ''Futurama'' (1999–2003, 2008–2013, 2 ...

to perform at the edition of the

All Tomorrow's Parties "All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released as the band's debut single in 1966. The song is from their 1967 debut studio album, ''The Velvet Underground & Nico''. Inspiration for the so ...

festival he curated in May 2010 in Minehead, England. In 2011, Smith released '' Best of Gloucester County'', the first Danielson album released solely through his Sounds Familyre Records label. In June 2014, Danielson and

Jad Fair Jadwin B. Fair (born June 9, 1954) is an American singer, guitarist, graphic artist, and founding member of lo-fi alternative rock group Half Japanese. Biography Fair was born in Coldwater, Michigan. In 1974, he and his brother David formed the ...

(of

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) released a collaborative album "Solid Gold Heart". The album came about as part of Jad Fair's Artist In Residence project with Indianapolis label

Joyful Noise Recordings Joyful Noise Recordings is an independent record label with headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The label was founded in 2003 in Bloomington, Indiana by Karl Hofstetter, who also played drums on several of the label's first releases. Joyful N ...

. Daniel Smith has cited his musical influences as including " T.Rex, Rapeman, B.A.L.L.,

Syd Barrett Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006) was an English singer, guitarist and songwriter who co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd in 1965. Until his departure in 1968, he was Pink Floyd's frontman and primary songwriter, ...

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

, Bongwater, My Bloody Valentine,

Beat Happening Beat Happening was an American indie pop band formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis, and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members. Beat Happening were early leaders in the American indie pop and lo-f ...

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, Ween,

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, avidBowie, Can, Pixies,

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and more." In addition to Danielson's music, Smith has recorded and produced albums by

, The Welcome Wagon, The Chairman Dances, Half-handed Cloud and others.

Discography

Studio albums

* '' A Prayer for Every Hour'', Danielson, Independent, 1994 * '' Tell Another Joke at the Ol' Choppin' Block'', Danielson Famile, Tooth and Nail, 1997 * '' Tri-Danielson!!! (Alpha)'', Danielson, Tooth and Nail, 1998 * '' Tri-Danielson!!! (Omega)'', Danielson, Tooth and Nail, 1999 * '' Fetch the Compass Kids'', Danielson Famile,

, 2001 * '' Brother Is to Son'', Brother Danielson,

, 2004 * ''

'', Danielson,

, 2006 * '' Best of Gloucester County'', Danielson, Sounds Familyre, 2011 * ''Solid Gold Heart'',

& Danielson, Sounds Familyre, 2014

Compilations

* ''Trying Hartz'' (two-disc retrospective), Danielson,

, 2008

EPs

*''Insound Tour Support'', Soul Junk + Danielson, Insound, 1998 * '' Wow To The Deadness'', Steve Taylor and the Danielson Foil, Splint Entertainment, 2016 *''Snap Outtavit'', Danielson, Joyful Noise, 2018

Singles

*"Flip Flop Flim Flam", Danielson Famile, Fluevog, 2001 *"The Kid" / "Five Stars and Two Thumbs Up", Brother Danielson,

, 2003 *"When It Comes To You I'm Lazy" / "Goody, Goody", Danielson

Kill Rock Stars Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in February 1991 by Slim Moon and Tinuviel Sampson, and based in both Olympia, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, but it was orig ...

, 2006 *"I'm Slow But I'm Sloppy" / "Did I Step On Your Remix", Danielson, Anticon Records, 2006 *"Dry Goods Dry Power" / "Left-Handed Smoke Shifter", Danielson, Sounds Familyre, 2006 *"Our Givest (Odd Nosdam Remix)" / "Jokin' At the Block (Dymaxion Remix)", Danielson, Secretly Canadian, 2008 *"Moment Soakers" / "Eagle", Danielson, Sounds Familyre, 2009 *"Grow Up" / "

Wheel in the Sky "Wheel in the Sky" is a song by the American rock band Journey, released on January 19, 1978 in the United States and April 8 in the UK. It was included in their album, ''Infinity.'' It was written and composed by Robert Fleischman, Neal Schon, ...

" (Journey cover), Danielson, Fire, 2011 *"Expectorance", Danielson,

, 2012 *"The True Wheel", (Brian Eno cover) Danielson,

, 2018 *"Visions of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, Danielson,

, 2020

DVDs

*''Tooth & Nail Videography – 1993–99'', Tooth & Nail Records, 2000 *''Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music'', Blank Stare, 2006 *'' Danielson: A Family Movie (or, Make A Joyful Noise HERE)'', Homevision, 2007

Compilation appearances

*"Song for Every Speaker" – ''Art Core Volume 2'', Tooth & Nail, 1996 *"Smooth Death" – ''Tooth & Nail Rock Sampler, Volume 1'', Tooth & Nail, 1997 *"Allhallow's Eve" – ''The Unaccompanied Voice: An A Capella Compilation'',

, 2000 *"Who are Parents?" – ''Better Than the Beatles: A Tribute to

the Shaggs The Shaggs were an American rock band formed in Fremont, New Hampshire, in 1965. They comprised the sisters Dorothy "Dot" Wiggin (vocals and lead guitar), Betty Wiggin (vocals and rhythm guitar), Helen Wiggin (drums) and, later, Rachel Wiggin ...

'', Animal World, 2001 *"Nothing to Do" – ''Dimension Mix: A Tribute to

Bruce Haack Bruce Clinton Haack () (May 4, 1931 – September 26, 1988) was a Canadian musician and composer in the field of electronic music. Biography From Alberta to New York (1931–1963) Bruce Haack played on his family's piano at the age of three, a ...

'', Eenie Meenie, 2005 *"My Lion Sleeps Tonight" – ''Mews Too: An Asthmatic Kitty Compilation'', Asthmatic Kitty, 2006 *"Worried Shoes" – ''I Killed the Monster: 21 Artists Performing the Songs of

'', Second Shimmy, 2006 *"Happy Days Are Here Again" – '' Song of America'', Split Rock Records / Thirty One Tigers, 2007

Soundtracks

* ''Electric Jesus (Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture,'' Various Artists), Joyful Noise, 2021

References

External links

Sounds Familyre
- Record Label Site
Danielson: A Family Movie
*
Mstation Interview w/ Daniel SmithTrouser Press entry
{{Authority control Musical groups from Gloucester County, New Jersey Tooth & Nail Records artists American Christian rock groups Musical collectives Sufjan Stevens Anticon artists Musical groups established in 1994 People from East Greenwich Township, New Jersey 1994 establishments in New Jersey Secretly Canadian artists Fire Records (UK) artists Sibling musical groups