The only good thing about NOT shopping in record stores like the good ol' days is you won’t have to figure out what genre to look for Danny under. If that WERE the case, you could try looking under, rock/pop, singer-songwriter, world...or even classical?!
His own self-described musical A.D.D. has kept Danny’s music fresh and exciting for a few decades of albums now,and his thoughtful lyrics & earnest performances have earned him a devoted fan base, nominations for three Juno awards, The Polaris Prize, and The CBC’s "Heart Of Gold". Danny is unquestionably one of Canada’s finest songwriters whose hopeful songs find a home in everyone's heart.
In 2011, Danny relocated to Central America after being wooed by the music of Belize which led to him track down one of his favorite Belizean bands; The Garifuna Collective (A unique Afro-Amerindian cultural group) and convince them that they should make an album together. That album (“Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me”) was quoted as “One of the finest musical works of our time” By Billboard's Larry Leblanc. The album landed him a 3rd JUNO nomination (this time in the “World Music” category) and a sold out summer tour of North America with The Garifuna Collective.
While in Belize, Danny also founded the “Danny Michel Ocean Academy Fund” that helps raise scholarships for a small non-profit community high school. To date Danny & his fans have raised over $70,000.00 for the school.
Danny’s most recent project “Khlebnikov” was written & recorded aboard the legendary Soviet-era Russian ice-breaker, Kapitan Khlebnikov during an 18-day arctic expedition through the northwest passage. Danny was invited to join “Generator Arctic” by Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield who assembled a small group of scientists, photographers, writers, musicians, and videographers to capture a unique experience unlike ever before.
Once home from the Arctic, Danny’s recordings were arranged for brass and strings by film composer Rob Carli. The result is a suite of atmospheric and haunting songs about the Arctic, our planet and our place in it. Possibly the most northern recorded album ever recorded (above 80°), Danny, Chris & Rob are performing "Khlebnikov" with orchestras throughout Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, London and more in 2017. Danny timed the albums release to fall on January 20, Donald Trumps's inauguration day. It felt appropriate for this Russian-based project.